The Belgian Jupiler league is incredibly tight at the top of the table. However, Club Brugge are four points clear of second-place Gent, who visit Royal Antwerp on Thursday night.
Antwerp are in the top six and just four points behind the visitors. A win would certainly boost the home sides chances of finishing in that all-important top-six this season.
They may well have been closer to the top of the table if it were not for some highly inconsistent form in recent weeks, which has seen Laszlo Boloni’s team record just two wins in their last seven league outings.
⚽ MATCHDAY!🆚 KAA Gent🕝 20.30u📍 Bosuilstadion#ANTGNT #COYR #RAFC pic.twitter.com/iz7eKtKJv6— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) November 21, 2019
⚽ MATCHDAY!🆚 KAA Gent🕝 20.30u📍 Bosuilstadion#ANTGNT #COYR #RAFC pic.twitter.com/iz7eKtKJv6
The home sides recent league outings have certainly been entertaining, as eight of their last nine matches in the Belgian top-flight have produced over 2.5 goals. Both teams have also scored in their last nine league outings.
Veteran Gent forward Dieumerci Mbokani has played a big part in those high-scoring games by scoring 11 times in 14 league appearances.
One important factor for the home side against the high-flying visitors is the fact that they are so strong at home. In fact, Royal Antwerp have won five of their last six league games on home soil, while remaining unbeaten in the run.
Gent head into this potentially difficult clash on the back of a five-game unbeaten run in the Belgian top-flight, consisting of two wins and two draws. Last time out, the visitors won 2-0 at Genk. The win saw Gent score at least two goals for the fourth time in five league matches.
One facet of the visitor’s game that has not been great of late is their away form, as the aforementioned win at Genk ended a six-game winless run on their travels in the Belgian top-flight.
Forebet predicts that Antwerp will close the gap on Gent, instead of the visitors making up ground on league leaders Club Brugge.