Football Results

Although Club Brugge has no serious competitor in the league it lost nine days ago to Standard in Liege by even 4-0 in the 1st semi-final leg of the Belgian Cup, and now ahead of them is a very difficult task. Club Brugge is definitely capable to annul backlog of three goals, as something similar happened in Brugge last autumn when the two teams met and the home team won by sound 4-0.

Club Brugge

At the same time we should have in mind that Club Brugge was almost unstoppable in the league, but the 2nd semi-final leg of the Belgian Cup comes for coach Leke players after three-game winless streak of two defeats and one draw. Besides losing to Standard in the Cup currently leading team of the Juplier League was also defeated away by Gent 2-0, while last weekend it merely drew at home with second-positioned Charleroi 3-3.

True, their advantage over Charleroi is still big 11 points, and it is already quite probable that by the end of regular season, which has just five rounds to play, it will keep the first place in the table. We believe that due to that fact Club Brugge players have eased a bit but now in the second match with Standard we expect to see their maximal efforts, regardless that cannot count on injured stoppers Decarli and Poulain, and midfielder Refaelov.

Probable lineups Club Brugge: Gabulov – Mitrovic, Mechele, Denswil – Cools, Vormer, Clasie, Limbombe – Vanaken – Wesley, Diaby

Standard Liege

Unlike Club Brugge, atmosphere in Standard locker room ahead of the 2nd semi-final leg of Belgian Cup is excellent, mostly because  of three-goal advantage and fact that Standard won four points from last two league matches, which allowed it to again join the race for positions that lead to the play-off. Coach Sa Pinto players had first drew with Anderlecht 3-3 in Brussels, while last weekend they won Lokern away by 3-0.

In that way they moved up at the ninth place in the Juplier League table and right now they have just one point fewer than sixth-placed Genk, meaning they are absolutely competitive regarding reaching the play-off. However, they are now fully focused on the 2nd semi-final leg of the Belgian Cup with Club Brugge, in which they can allow themselves to lose by two-goal difference, which is reason why we can expect a bit more defensive tactic from Standard. Out of action are injured stopper Vanheudsen and midfielder Bokadi.

Probable lineups Standard Liege: Ochoa – Cavanda, Luyindama, Laifis, Fai – E. Junior, Cimirot, Agbo, Mpoku – Emond, Orlando Sa

Verdict:

Given the backlog of even tree goals from the first match currently leading team of the Juplier League has no other choice than to play offensively and to win. It is to be seen will it be enough to reach the final of the Beligan Cup.

Pick:  Club Brugge wins 1.73 - 73/100 @1XBet