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Antwerp vs Gent Prediction & Betting tips
German coaches seem to enjoy great popularity in the Belgian Jupier League. Three soccer teachers from Germany are currently under contract in the top division of the neighboring country. While Bernd Hollerbach has been swinging the scepter in Mouscron since the beginning of the season, Bernd Storck (Cercle Bruges) and Hannes Wolf (KRC Genk) were recently introduced to their new clubs.
Before on the weekend of the 16th matchday is on the program, goes on Thursday even a very interesting catch-up game on the stage. Antwerp receives Gent. According to the bookmaker’s odds, no clear favorite can be named, which is probably due to the fact that the Royal Club is considered extremely strong home, but the Europa League participants from Gent in the table in second place is clearly placed in front of the home side.
It’s also a prestigious derby, of course. The two largest cities in Flanders are just 60 kilometers apart and yet the rivalry, which is usually based on a common past, is far from as pronounced as in other duels in the country of the World Cup third parties. Nonetheless, the geographical proximity of course gives it a certain appeal, which may make it difficult to make the right prognosis between Antwerp and Ghent.
Also interesting is the fact that the two teams will face each other again next Sunday in the league, then in the second leg. We believe that the unbeaten home side of Antwerp (five wins, one draw) will have a good chance of reaching the opposition with a threesome, down to one point. Because the blue and white could only win one of their seven away games, we decide against Antwerp. Gent for the tip on home success.
Antwerp:
Four league titles, two cup wins and even a final win at the European Cup Winners’ Cup – the historic achievements of the Royal Antwerp Football Club can be proud of both nationally and internationally. However, those triumphs are already far in the past.
At the moment, however, it was not enough for the royal club to qualify for the main draw of the Europa League. After a close success in the third round of qualifying against Viktoria Pilsen AZ Alkmaar was in the playoffs one size too big.
So the men of coach Laszlo Bölöni can at least fully concentrate on the Jupiler League. There the red-whites usually show two faces. If you are one of the strongest teams in the country at home, it does not go according to plan. With only eight points from eight games abroad and already four defeats (two wins, two draws) you are on average in the distance on average.
In front of a native backdrop, the oldest professional club in Belgium, which therefore likes to hear the name “The Great Old”, is a real power. In six games in front of their own fans, the Flanders celebrated five wins and shared only the 2-2 draw against Standard Liege once the points. Only the upcoming opponent from Ghent can be found in the home table before Antwerp.
That the Bölöni-Elf does not stop at well-known competitors, she proved in the home game before the international break against leaders and Champions League participants Club Bruges. The undisputed championship leader (already five points ahead of second place) has conceded in Bosuil Stadium the first and only defeat so far. It was called 1: 2 after 90 minutes from the perspective of the acting vice-champion.
The strong performance in the home game against Bruges and the general dominance in front of a home crowd are logical reasons to give a hint between Antwerp and Ghent on another success of the table sixth, who is currently four points behind KAA. It should also be stated that the offensive in particular meets the highest national standards. Only once was the Royal Club so far without scoring (0-2 in Waregem). 16 of the total of 28 goals scored at home.
The 66-year-old Romanian coach of the Red and White builds in attack mainly on his top scorer Diemeurci Mbokani, who is already at eleven goals and also could prepare another five goals. Experience is a trump card on the defensive. Defensive chief Wesley Hoedt and full-back Ritchie de Laet have plenty of Premier League matches under their belt and form together with former Turkish national team-mate Sinan Bolat, who has been down to zero.
Gent:
For the team of Danish coach Jess Thorup came the last international break of the year at a truly unfavorable time. In the three compulsory games before the non-play weekend in all European top leagues, the blue and white presented in a strong shape.
A 3-1 victory against Standard Liège was followed by two victories in the Europa League at VfL Wolfsburg (3: 1) and the reigning champions in Genk (2: 0), who then dismissed coach Mazzu and Hannes Wolf as his Successor introduced. The question now is whether the royal club from Flanders could preserve the form for nearly two weeks.
However, the question marks are not getting smaller, considering that the team with the chieftain in the blaze away has so far sold far below value. The mentioned 2: 0 at the kriselnden title carrier was actually the very first away win in the current Jupiler League season.
Previously, there were only four draws and two defeats. In particular, the twelve conceded goals in seven encounters in the distance justify our Antwerp vs. Gent forecast in favor of the hosts.
In addition, it should be noted that the Flanders had to turn off a few internationals more than Antwerp. Nearly ten players stayed in their country selection last week, for example on Monday or Tuesday.
To what extent physical fitness will become the decisive point on Thursday evening remains to be seen. That it is an away game, even though the two cities are only 60 kilometers apart, makes the endeavor for the table second certainly not easier. It is thus somewhat surprising, under the aspects mentioned above, that Antwerp and Ghent offer the lower odds of outward success.
With Jonathan David (eight goals, four assists) one of the biggest talents in European football at Ghent is currently in the squad. The only 19-year-old, whose star in the Gold Cup (six hits) went up, however, comes directly back from the Canadian national team and thus has even overcome the famous “jet lag”. His congenial forward colleague Roman Yaremchuk was also 180 minutes on the pitch for Ukraine and therefore had no proper regeneration phase.
Antwerp vs Gent head to head matches
16.05.19 JL Antwerp Gent 1 : 2
13.04.19 JL Gent Antwerp 1 : 2
25.11.18 JL Gent Antwerp 0 : 0
30.09.18 JL Antwerp Gent 2 : 2
24.01.18 JL Antwerp Gent 1 : 1