Belgian Jupiler Pro League Play-Offs: Sunday Preview

Posted Monday, April 19, 2010 by Goal.com

Play-Off A

Club Brugge - Anderlecht
KAA Gent - Zulte Waregem

Play-Off B2

Standard Liege - KRC Genk
Germinal Beerschot - Charleroi

Club Brugge - Anderlecht

With Club now 11 points behind, Anderlecht may well find themselves celebrating a 30th Belgian championship in their fiercest rivals' own back yard should the league leaders win today in what still has to be regarded as the glamour fixture in Belgian football. The RSCA fans are frothing at the mouth in anticipation, and there will be a big screen in the Constant Vanden Stock relaying the action. Adrie Koster is without injured trio Karel Geraerts, Daan Van Gijseghem and Mohamed Dahmane as well as suspended duo Ryan Donk and Vadis Odidija-Ofoe, who misses out against his old club. Koster named both Cheikhou Kouyate and Jonathan Legear in the 21-man squad despite fitness concerns. Jan Polak and Marcin Wasilewski are still in the course of making a comeback and Mario Martinez remains in Honduras on compassionate leave. Tom De Sutter will be a long-term absentee and undergoes an operation tomorrow.

Prediction

Club have been badly stung by their shock defeat to Zulte Waregem. I think Anderlecht may be popping the champagne corks come teatime today.

Club Brugge 1 - 2 Anderlecht

KAA Gent - Zulte Waregem

Should Club lose at home to Anderlecht, De Buffalo's have the chance to rub more salt into the wounds and move above Sint-Truiden and Club into second spot. They host Zulte Waregem at teatime in the Oost-Vlaamse derby. Zulte will be buoyed by their surprise win over Club Brugge and will want to mount a late charge for a European spot having brought up the rear until now in Play-Off A. Michel Preud'homme is without injured captain Bernd Thijs as well as the skipper's arch-enemy Christophe Grondin, who remains in the reserves. Slovenian centre-back Marko Suler returns to strengthen the home backline. Essevee will most certainly welcome back Kevin Roelandts from suspension and Teddy Chevalier may well put his sickness to one side in the interests of the team. Karel D'Haene was forced off in the week against Brugge and will have to sit out whilst attacker Emil Lyng is doubtful.

Prediction

Gent drew a blank last time out against Sint-Truiden but I can't see them repeating that. Instead I expect them to repeat their earlier derby win in the play-offs.

KAA Gent 3 - 2 Zulte Waregem

Standard Liege - KRC Genk

Les Rouches will be looking to take momentum into this vital clash after salvaging a point in Antwerpen in the dying minutes. They need to win to stand any chance of overhauling Genk at the top of the table. Igor De Camargo is a doubt against his former club with a knee problem. Dominique D'Onofrio is also without Victor Ramos and Remi Gershon, who have ankle injuries, and Mohamed Sarr is a victim of the volcanic ash, as he is stranded in Senegal having returned home for the funeral of his father. Genk welcome back Joao Carlos and Anele to beef up the defence, however, French midfielder Fabien Camus will not be risked for fear of aggravating his adductor injury. In order to stimulate interest in this already attractive-looking clash, women and children will have free entry.

Prediction

Standard will have the home advantage, however Genk are the form team. That said, De Smurfen will face a much greater test than the previous encounter between the sides.

Standard 2 - 2 Genk

Germinal Beerschot - Charleroi

After firing their Scottish manager Tommy Craig, Les Zebres will be hoping that Germinal Beerschot don't condemn them to the wooden spoon. GBA picked up a morale-boosting draw against Standard last week, though they will rue not seeing it out having led until the final minute of normal time. Home manager Jos Daerden has to deal with a number of absences in his final home game. Alongside the longer term injured quartet of Bart Goor, King Osei Gyan, Baron Tshibuabua and Guillaume Francois, Maxim Guerden, Wim De Decker and Victor Wanyama face spells on the treatment table. Sherjill MacDonald has been sick, but given the other injury news he may be forced into action. Experienced duo Tosin Dosunmu and Philippe Clement return from suspension to at least grant some good news to the departing Daerden. Charleroi go into this game under the temporary charge of Balog Tibor. The Hungarian is without Ederson (calf) and Chakouri who has a leg injury.

Prediction

Charleroi have staggered through this season and made no impact on the play-offs. Germinal Beerschot still have too much quality with the likes of Haroun and Jancyzk and should run out easy winners.

Germinal Beerschot 3 - 0 Charleroi