Sint-Truiden vs Cercle Brugge Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Sint-Truiden vs Cercle Brugge on and what time does it start? Sint-Truiden vs Cercle Brugge will take place on Sunday 27th August, 2023 – 15:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Sint-Truiden vs Cercle Brugge? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Sint-Truiden vs Cercle Brugge in the UK? Sint-Truiden vs Cercle Brugge will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
SINT-TRUIDEN
Last season, Sint-Truiden were one of a clutch of sides to finish in mid-table and narrowly miss out on a top eight finish. They will, alongside the likes of Sporting Charleroi and Oud-Heverlee Leuven, be concerned about the league being reduced from 18 to 16 teams. However, under the management of Thorsten Fink, they have made a positive start to the 2023/24 campaign.
They come into this on the back of a more than respectable 2-2 draw away from home against the league’s entertainers Gent. They had taken an early 2-0 lead in that game but were pegged back before half-time. That means they have started with seven points from their opening four matches, following two victories magainst Kortrijk and Standard Liege, as well as a loss to Anderlecht.
CERCLE BRUGGE
Cercle Brugge finished last season well and managed to earn a top eight spot, qualifying for the end of season UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs. Under the management of Miron Muslic, they entered this season hoping to build upon that relatively strong campaign and establish themselves in the top eight once again.
The Brugge-based club began the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League season with a respectable 1-0 defeat away to reigning champions Royal Antwerp before comfortably defeating Charleroi by two goals to nil. Then they were beaten 1-0 by Genk before an impressive win against a struggling Standard side in Liege last weekend in their most recent outing.
THE TEAM NEWS
SINT-TRUIDEN
The heavily Japanese-influenced squad of Sint-Truiden, coached by Thorsten Finkm will be without Togolese defender Frederic Ananou for this weekend’s clash with Cercle.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Schmidt; Van Helden, Smets, Godeau; Hashioka, Fujita, Delorge-Knieper, Bocat; Steuckers, Koita; Kaya
UNAVAILABLE: Ananou (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CERCLE BRUGGE
Miron Muslic has no fresh injury or suspension concerns but he will remain without 23 year-old Lithuanian midfielder Edgaras Utkus, due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Warleson; Popovic, Ravych, Daland; Siquet, Francis, Lopes, Deman; Somers, Denkey, Gboho
UNAVAILABLE: Utkus (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
This is a clash between two of the teams that are seeking to make up the numbers of the top eight for the end of the campaign. Both have won two of their opening four games but St Truiden sit a point above Cercle in the table. They are both evenly matched, too, playing similar styles of football under managers that have been in charge for a similar period of time. There is very little to separate these sides and whilst a draw bet is always a risk, there won’t be many better value draw bets than this one.
TIP: DRAW
