KVC Westerlo – STVV

Friday evening, February 6, we welcome STVV to ’t Kuipje. The team currently sitting eleventh in the standings goes head-to-head with the surprising number two. Will Westerlo keep all three points at home, or will the Canaries return to Stayen with the full spoils. Together, of course, we’re all hoping for the former. Westerlo and STVV have faced each other 56 times already. Our Kemphanen came out on top 28 times, drew 9 matches and suffered 19 defeats.

The first meeting. On matchday 7 of this season, we travelled to Stayen, where we handed STVV their first defeat of the campaign. Nacho Ferri played a starring role. The Spanish striker opened the scoring after 39 minutes and also won a penalty five minutes into the second half. Griffin Yow kept his cool from the spot to double the lead. Just before the hour mark, Emin Bayram sealed the 0–3 final score, leaving STVV out of contention early on.

Recent years. Since our return to the top flight, encounters with STVV have proven difficult. In nine head-to-head matches, we managed only two victories. Aside from the win earlier this season, we even have to go back to matchday 26 of the 2022–2023 season for our previous victory. Back then, our Kemphanen won at Stayen thanks to a penalty goal by Maxim De Cuyper.

Last season, the two sides met twice. In the first match at Stayen, Westerlo lost 2–0. In the return fixture at ’t Kuipje, STVV took an early lead, but Alfie Devine made it 1–1 before half-time. In the end, STVV claimed the win thanks to a goal by Ryotaro Ito, a player we’ll also need to keep a close eye on this Friday evening.

One match many will surely remember is the spectacular 3–3 draw at ’t Kuipje during the 2023–2024 season. STVV scored early, but Bayram soon equalised from an assist by Bryan Reynolds. Around the half-hour mark, Nicolas Madsen put Westerlo ahead. For a long time, our Kemphanen looked set to hold on to that lead, until Koita struck twice late on, suddenly putting STVV 2–3 up. The Canaries thought they had secured the win, but Matija Frigan had other ideas, scoring a deserved 3–3 deep into stoppage time.

About KVC Westerlo. Our Kemphanen currently sit eleventh in the standings, following last matchday’s 0–1 away win against Zulte Waregem. Ferri crowned himself matchwinner with his seventh league goal, but Andreas Jungdal also played a key role. Our Danish goalkeeper kept a clean sheet with a series of fine saves, helping to bring the three points back to ’t Kuipje. It was only our second away win of the season. Hopefully, it marks the start of a strong run!

Westerlo were very active at the end of the transfer window. Defensively, the Kemphanen strengthened with Michée Ndembi (Benfica) and loanee Clinton Nsiala (Rangers), alongside earlier arrival Ourega. In attack, Afonso Patrão (Braga) and loanee Enis Destan (Hull City) made the move to ’t Kuipje. Together with Shunsuke Saito and our other attackers, they are expected to add even more threat. There were departures too, including Kyan Vaesen (OH Leuven), Mathias Fixelles (Francs Borains), Jan Bernat, and earlier Rommens, Yow and Mebude.

Squad KVC Westerlo: Jungdal, Van Langendonck, Annell, Reynolds, Bayram, Haspolat, Piedfort, Sayyadmanesh, Sakamoto, Alcocer, Ferri, Lapage, Mbamba, Van Den Keybus, Neustaedter, Sydorchuck, Smekens, Saito, Ourega, Bohamdi-Kamoni, Ndembi, Nsiala and Patrão.

About STVV

The team coached by Wouter Vrancken currently occupy an impressive second place in the standings. The Canaries have already recorded 14 wins this season, suffered 6 defeats and drawn twice. With 33 goals scored, they have been offensively efficient, while conceding 26 goals at the back. Our Kemphanen should be wary of several dangerous Canaries on Friday: Keisuke Goto (8 goals, 2 assists), Ilias Sebaoui (3 goals, 2 assists), Ryotaro Ito (6 goals, 2 assists) and Rihiro Yamamoto (2 goals, 5 assists). At the back, Shogo Taniguchi and Visar Musliu form a solid defensive pairing.

Last week, STVV lost 0–2 at home to Sporting Charleroi. Arbnor Muja received a red card ten minutes before half-time and will therefore miss Friday’s match. With almost an hour to play, being reduced to ten men proved too much for the Canaries, who conceded twice after the break. It was only their third home defeat of the season, meaning STVV will be eager for revenge. Kemphanen, be warned!

STVV were also active on the transfer market. They brought in striker Oumar Diouf (RFC Liège), a standout performer in the Challenger Pro League. In addition, they loaned Andres Ferrari to Spanish second-division side Sporting Gijón. Defensively, the Canaries strengthened with Loïc Mbe Soh (Beerschot) and Joedrick Pupe (Vancouver Whitecaps) as replacements for Rein Van Helden, who moved to Antwerp. STVV also secured Japanese talent Shion Shinkawa.

Squad STVV: Kokubo, Lendfers, Coppens, Hata, Taniguchi, Musliu, Vanwesemael, Yamamoto, Sissako, Ito, Sebaoui, Goto, Merlen, Matsuzawa, Diouf, Mbe Soh, Juklerød, Janssens, Pupe, Diriken, Shinkawa and Delpupo.

Did you know that…

• Assistant coach Bart Goor scored no fewer than 11 goals against STVV during his playing career, including 4 while playing for Westerlo.
• Captain Doğucan Haspolat played his 90th match in a Westerlo shirt last weekend against Zulte Waregem.
• STVV are the opponent Westerlo have faced most often in club history: 56 times.
• In those 56 meetings, Westerlo scored 95 goals, compared to 75 for STVV.
• STVV stands for Koninklijke Sint-Truidense Voetbalvereniging.
• STVV were founded in 1924 and emerged from a merger between Union Sint-Truiden and FC Goldstar Sint-Truiden.
• Current Red Devil Maxim De Cuyper scored three times for Westerlo against STVV.
• The most valuable players on the pitch are captain Haspolat and STVV midfielder Ryotaro Ito, each with a market value of €5 million.
• Several players wore the shirts of both Westerlo and STVV, including club icon Bart Deelkens (Westerlo: 1998–2005, 2008–2013 | STVV: 2006–2007), Wim Mennes (Westerlo: 2002–2008 | STVV: 2009–2012) and Benji De Ceulaer (Westerlo: 2015–2018 | STVV: 2002–2005).

Referee. Wesli De Cremer will be in charge as referee on Friday evening. He has already officiated 23 matches involving Westerlo in the Jupiler Pro League and Challenger Pro League. Of those 23 games, our Kemphanen won 6, drew 6 and lost 11. De Cremer will be assisted by linesmen Gianni Seeldraeyers and Wouter Cochet. Klass Clerckx will act as fourth official, while Ken Vermeiren will serve as VAR.