These two teams started the Belgian Championship play-off from almost the same starting position as Club Brugge had just one point more but now the difference is huge 11 points. Standard didn’t play well in the play-off and won just twice in eight rounds, while Club Brugge lost only once. In their first play-off match Club Brugge outclassed Standard by 4-1, while in the regular season each team won once.
It is clear now that Standard will have an unsuccessful season. In the previous one they won the Cup from which were eliminated at the very beginning of this season, while in the league they achievements were quite modest. Standard played in Champions League qualifiers from which were eliminated and moved to the Europa League where they couldn’t go further than the group phase despite winning three matches. They struggles in the league throughout the entire first part but in the second one they played a bit better and finished the regular season at the third place.
The position offered a chance to fight for the title, especially as they started the play-off with two wins, however, after that Standard lost steam and won three points only against Anderlecht but not on the pitch. The Belgium Football Association fined Anderlecht with regulatory defeat for misbehaviour of its fans during match in Liege. Standard has four-game losing streak and it will most probably end up at the third or fourth place. Cavanda is back in team after expiration of suspension, just like Lestienne.
Probable lineups Standard Liege: Ochoa – Cavanda, Bokadi, Kosanovic, Laifis – Cimirot, Marin – Carcela-Gonzalez, Halilovic, Lestienne – Oulare
Club Brugge defends the title this season but everything indicates that will not succeed in that. If they indeed fail, and they have three points fewer than leading Genk two rounds before the end of play-off, they should seek reasons for failure in the regular part of season. Club Brugge underperformed in it and lost even three home matches which wasn’t the case in previous seasons. They mostly occupied the second place where they are now.
They started the play-off having four points fewer than leading Genk and the difference now is three points, meaning they didn’t play badly but they lost in Genk and drew with 3rd-placed Antwerpen. Club Brugge triumphed in three previous rounds, and the winning streak includes victory against Genk in the last round. They were trailing behind for one goal but they managed to turn the result up-side down for the final 3-2, which left them in the title race. They have no major problems with injuries, and perhaps Poulain and Amrabat will return in the starting line-up.
Probable lineups Club Brugge: Horvath – Mechele, Poulain, Denswil – Dennis, Vanaken, Vormer, Amrabat, Diatta – Schrijvers, Wesley
Standard doesn’t have adequate motive in this match as they cannot improve or worsen their position in a significant degree. Club Brugge still hope to defend the title and will seek to win in Liege, but Standard scores with ease lately and because of that we will forecast an efficient match.
Pick: over 3 goals 1.89 - 89/100 @1XBet