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Steffen Schmidt - August 16, 2023
Leuven vs Royal Antwerp
Belgian First Division A
Date: 18 August 2023, Friday
Kick-off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: King Power at Den Dreef Stadion (Heverlee).
The reigning champions found the best way possible to respond to the second round’s 1-0 defeat at Anderlecht.
They came up with a stunning effort in a 6-0 thumping of Kortrijk last Friday to make it two wins in the opening three games of the new First Division A campaign.
Royal Antwerp are now looking to back up this victory and further boost their confidence ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoffs round next Tuesday with a win over strugglers OH Leuven in Matchday No 4 on Friday evening away at King Power at Den Dreef Stadion.
Vincent Janssen completed a hat-trick seven days ago against Kortrijk. The Dutch veteran forward will have plenty of space to keep delivering the goods in the final third in this match.
OH Leuven suffered a tough 5-1 defeat at the hands of Union Saint-Gilloise last weekend, revealing plenty of defensive holes on the occasion.
The fact they conceded nine shots on target in a single match says enough about the lack of defensive meticulousness among Leuven’s troops.
It was the second straight defeat in the league for Marc Brys’ men who have only collected one point in the opening three matches of the season.
It is very difficult to look past the away win pick at the 1.66 odds here knowing about the displays these two teams have shown last weekend. Leuven’s back line looked dreadful last time out at Union St. Gilloise which is why we will go for the more attractive option and back Antwerp to win & Over 2.5 goals FT pick at the 2.37 odds.
In regards to this, we also have to add Vincent Janssen to score anytime as a solid betting option at the 1.83 odds. The Dutch striker completed a hat-trick in the last Friday’s drubbing of Kortrijk.
