KVC Westerlo – Club Brugge

We should not hide it, our Kemphans deserve a place in the PO2. It would be unfortunate if things still went wrong. As things stand at the moment, there could be three more fine matches in Kuipje after Saturday. Something will already be clearer after this matchday, because apart from Westerlo – Club Brugge, Standard – Charleroi and Genk – Anderlecht are also on the programme.

KVC Westerlo

With some pride, yet also disappointment, our Kemphans left the Anderlecht pitch on Easter Sunday. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen pulled off some fine saves in the closing stages of the match and the goal wood was also the game-breaker twice to drive back to the Kuipje with the full three points. The group showed once again that they can also withstand an attacking offensive from the opposing team – Sunday it was twice in the early part of each half – and they were able to do so.

Historically, we get to face an opponent on Saturday where we collect the least percentage of wins. Only 5% points we achieved in the past (2 wins – 6 draws and 31 defeats). The community of the reputable transfermarkt website also expects a defeat for our boys (22% win probability against 68% for Club). 

We are convinced that our coveted coach Jonas De Roeck will work out a tactical plan, just like he did in those other difficult home games against those other best teams in the country: Standard (4-2), Anderlecht (2-1), Antwerp (3-3), Gent (3-3), Union (4-2). Only against league leader Genk (2-3) was the final score in our disadvantage.

Did you know?

Most playing minutes:

  1. Sinan Bolat                 2790 minutes
  2. Maxim De Cuyper     2773 minutes
  3. Nicolas Madsen         2206 minutes

Top scorer:

  1. Maxim De Cuyper       8 goals
  2. Nene Dorgeles            8 goals
  3. Kyan Vaesen                6 goals

Assists:

  1. Maxim De Cuyper       6 assists
  2. Nicolas Madsen          4 assists
  3. Nene Dorgeles           3 assists

Value on transfer market:

  1. Maxim De Cuyper      4,5 million
  2. Nacer Chadli              2,5 million
  3. Bryan Reynolds          2,5 million

Yellow danger:

  1. Bryan Reynolds          4 yellow cards
  2. Mathias Fixelles         4 yellow cards
  3. Roman Neustädter    4 yellow cards

Club Brugge KV

Starting this competition as top favourites, they also had a handsome start. Until 8 October, they won practically everything. On the opening day, they won against Genk and later European opponents Leverkusen, Porto and Atlético Madrid also had to bite the dust. In total, they then put up a fine run of seven consecutive wins.

And then the modest Westerlo visited the Jan Breydel, resulting in a 0-2 defeat, after they wrung the neck of several good chances. Since then, unBrugged results followed in the month of November and they even had to wait seven games for a win. Carl Hoefkens had to make way for Scott Parker, but he too could not get the train on track.

Likeable Club NXT coach Rik De Mil was then appointed to bring the final games of the season to a successful conclusion. For the West Flemish, this of course means a place in the Champions Plays-off where they lie in battle with AA Gent for the final ticket. With a fine 9/12, he has already won more games in 4 matches than his predecessor won in 12.

7 players were fielded in each of the 4 games – under Rik De Mil – goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, defender Jorn Spileers, midfielders Rits, Vanaken and Nielsen and strikers Jutglà and Lang. 

For the remaining four places, Mata, Sylla, Mechele, Meijer, Onyedika, Buchanan and the reinstated Skov Olsen will compete. Then when you know that top acquisition Roman Yaremchuk did not even have a place among the 18 last week… talk about a wealth!

Lothar D’hondt

Already 20 duels he has been allowed to whistle in the Jupiler Pro League this season. Not once was this at the Kuipje, even worse: we haven’t had him in an away game either. For Club Brugge, he already whistled 4 games in the current season: 1 win – 1 draw and 2 defeats.

If we delve further into the past, we see that this will be his sixth game at the Kuipje and his eighth in total for Westerlo. At the Kuipje, we won against Lierse (6-0) and Eupen (1-0), played a draw once against Tubize (1-1) and lost the regional derbies against Lierse (0-1) and KV Mechelen (0-3).

Text and statistics: Peter Boons