Westerlo - Anderlecht
Anderlecht had a very difficult start in the beginning of the season while they are still building a whole new team. Still they came trough with a 6 on 6 in a way typically to them. Bad overall matches that they both could have well lost, but won anyhow. A remark that has to be made is that Anderlecht played both matches with 10 players against 11 When we look at this a bit closer, we see that Anderlecht was actually playing better with 10 and during the 70 minutes they were with 11 they did not manage to score 1 time. Todays match is against a more difficult team then the previous ones. We all know the names and the fact that Anderlecht has an incredible strong team on paper. For some reasons they have not been playing like the can en should play. For todays match I don't see many reasons why this fact would have changed. Weakest point in the lineup still is with no doubt the defense. Pareja is a player that rescently was transfered to anderlecht to replace Kompany. He's for the first time in the selection after an injury, but so far he hasn't played almost anything so I doubt he'll start the match. In case he does, there's still a big questionmark in what way he'll be able to perform. Anderlecht has at the moment not 1 right back player, so someone will have to play out of position or the coach will go for a 3 persons defence which I doubt. In the practice match against Panathinaikos, Legaer played on that position. While he's still thinking a bit too much offensive, he managed to do quite good. The defensive midfielder will probably be the 36 year old Vanderhaege again. Lots of crittic from the fans who rather see Leiva on that position. I'm sharing the same idea, there is no reason why the coach puts Vanderhaege in the lineup, no doubt Leva will do a better job there. The offense and midfield of anderlecht is well known. This match there is 1 big enforcement there with Nicolas Frutos. I'm sure with him in front things will run much better. Comming out of an injury only having played 1 practise match where he scored, I don't see him starting the match with an eye on next weeks match against Brugge. He coulb be a nice weapon for today in case things do not go like they should. With all the '1m68' players in the midfield, Frutos should perfectly add to the system being a '2m00' player who's strong with his back agaonst te goal to take on the balls and pass them on or score himself. Also Mbark Bousoufa seems to find his turn in the team lately, playing wonderfull against panathinaikos on the central midfield position. Sunday he'll be probably placed on the attack just behind tchité which has so far not been his best position. Some players had International matches this week, but I don't see this as a very big problem. Last match Anderlecht had the Ref on their side and was able to win the match. A lot of discussion in the media last couple weeks, so I doubt the ref in this match will try to do this again also knowing westerlo did not have the ref on their side last match against beveren. With the match against their main rival Club Brugge next week, it could be important that anderlecht takes the 3 points sunday to be able to start comfortably
next week. Yet I don't know if I should see this fact as a mental advantage or a disadvantage for them in the match against westerlo
. Looking at the statistics, anderlecht should be worried. Westerlo proves to be a very difficult confrontation every year.
20-11-2005 Westerlo-Anderlecht 2-1
29-04-2005 Westerlo-Anderlecht 2-2
22-02-2004 Westerlo-Anderlecht 0-0
10-08-2002 Westerlo-Anderlecht 0-2
08-12-2001 Westerlo-Anderlecht 1-2
24-02-2001 Westerlo-Anderlecht 2-2
08-04-2000 Westerlo-Anderlecht 5-0
05-09-1998 Westerlo-Anderlecht 6-0
29-04-1998 Westerlo-Anderlecht 2-2
Westerlo on the other hand is in a good form winning their fisrt 2 matches and taking a 6 on 6. The big question
for me is in how far this was the result of their strongness on the opponents weakness.
- Winning with 2 - 1 against roeselare who won against Brugge last week and played a 2 - 2 Draw against Moeskroen yesterday.
- Winning with 0 - 3 against Beveren in a match that could have been 0 - 7. Beveren played and ok match against GBA first week
and yesterday against brugge they also played descent only losing with 2 - 0.
These facts tell us that the 6 on 6 Westerlo has is more the result of their strongness then the opponents weakness.
This year westerlo has an overall good team with also good players on the bench. 1 of their best players who made a
remarkeble entrance in the belgian Jupiler League this year is patrick Ogunsoto. He was the top goal scorer in the 2nd division fron
Greece last year. I have a bet running saying he'll be the topscorer of the league this year @ 1 against 33 -> already dropped to 1 against 20 now.
This is defenatly a player that can hurt the Anderlecht defense! Some other factors that westerlo could use in their favor.
Having a 6 on 6 from the 1st 2 matches the pressure is totally off. This makes them the team with nothing to lose and everything
to win in this match. This could well give them the mental streaght to put a good performance. Also knowing this match is
Broadcast live on the Belgian television will be a factor of extra motivation for a team like this. Last confrontation they got
defeated with a 5 - 0 in anderlecht, so there is defenatly going a feeling to take some revenge on this.
Final Toughts
I don't see any reason why Anderlecht would all of a sudden play like they are supposed to and plenty
of reasons why Westerlo will take some points in this match. Tho odds on this match are worth putting a small stake on the fact that Westerlo will take something here.
Take the homeside @+.75
