In a week where the Pro League suddenly came up with the news to change the league format three matchdays before the end of the regular league, our Kemphians were at one point able to ease into the final three matchdays. However, the Professional Clubs’ vote on Thursday, changed that and we are going to have to prepare for three more finals after all.

KVC Westerlo

Against Charleroi, Koen Van Langendonck again had to depan in goal after Andreas Jungdal had to deal with a minor nasty injury. Coach Simons did not want to take any chances in this important match so Koen could complete his 223rd match in yellow and blue colours. Another player not featured on the match sheet was Allayhar Sayyadmanesh. He is struggling with his back and most probably the game in Leuven will also come far too early for him.

We read again this week that it is bizarre after all that a team like Westerlo should be participating in the Playdowns at the moment. Only three teams in Belgium score more: Club Brugge (57), Genk (52) and Antwerp (47), so that is not where the shoe pinches, when you see how a lead against Charleroi was wiped out on 6 minutes.

In any case, five teams are still fighting to get that last not-quite-coveted ticket to the Playdowns. So a win in Leuven is the only goal to be had. Again, it would make a world of difference. The remaining programme of those 5:

• OH Leuven: Westerlo (T) – Kortrijk (U) – Sint Truiden (T)
• KV Mechelen: Beerschot(U) – Charleroi(U) – Dender(T)
• Dender: Union (U) – Genk (T) – KV Mechelen (U)
• Cercle Brugge: Antwerp (T) – Club Brugge (T) – Anderlecht (U)
• Westerlo: OH Leuven (U) – Anderlecht (T) – Beerschot (U)

OH Leuven

On paper, the Leuveners still have the easiest triptych to deal with: they still play the current numbers 13, 15 and 16 in the rankings. For them, a win against Westerlo means they will be ‘saved’. They often gather points at the Kuipje, but in their own King Power @Den Dreef they dare to lose points against our Kemphans before, indeed: of the last 4 meetings in Flemish Brabant, they lost 3.

However, OHL have 3 rock-solid home statistics this season: they lost only once: against Club Brugge (0-1) and they are the team with the least number of goals conceded (8) and only one team managed to score twice against: Dender in the previous home game. Welshman Chris Coleman was appointed T1 on the last day of November, succeeding Hans Somers who was at the helm as interim coach for three games following the earlier dismissal of Spaniard Oscar Garcia.

In those matches, he managed to win 4x, draw 3x and lose 5x with a goal production of 10 against 13. Top shooter is Nigerian Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi with four goals and Dutchman Ezechiel Banzuzi is the player most often involved in a goal. He managed to score twice himself and gave the final pass to a goal five times.

Referee

Bram Van Driessche was designated for this match. Since his professional debut in 2015, he whistled 16 matches of our Kemphans, including 12 away from home. This season he featured in Mechelen vs Westerlo (2-4), Standard vs Westerlo (1-2) and Antwerp vs Westerlo (3-2). Final balance: 5x wins, 5x draws and 6 defeats

Text and statistics: Peter Boons