Charleroi vs Standard Liege Preview & Prediction
When is Charleroi vs Standard Liege on and what time does it start? Charleroi vs Standard Liege will take place on Sunday 13 August, 2023 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Charleroi vs Standard Liege? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Charleroi vs Standard Liege in the UK? Charleroi vs Standard Liege will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
CHARLEROI
Following the re-appointment of Felice Mazzu mid-way through last season, Sporting Charleroi may well be disappointed with missing out on a top eight finish and the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs. However, they will be aiming for that this season as they seek a return to European competition for the first time since they reached the playoff round of the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League.
The home team have started the 2023/24 Belgian Jupiler Pro League campaign with a couple of frustrating and disappointing results, though. After taking an early lead on the opening day of the season against Oud-Heverlee Leuven, they then went down to ten men inside 20 minutes and eventually conceded a late equaliser at home. That result was followed up with a disappointingly flat and lacklustre 2-0 loss away to Cercle Brugge.
STANDARD LIEGE
After a few seasons of underperformance, Standard Liege broke back into the top eight and the UEFA Europa Conference League playoff places at the end of last season. However, Ronny Deila shockingly departed the club for arch-rivals Club Brugge, replaced by former Club Brugge manager and Stoke City defender Carl Hoefkens.
The visitors couldn’t prevent a really poor end to the season but they would have been hoping for a much-improved 2023/24 campaign in which they pushed for European qualification. It has been a really poor start, though. After beginning the campaign with a narrow but underwhelming 1-0 loss away to Sint-Truiden, Standard then suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Union SG, who are expected to be title challengers, albeit they were down to ten men for nearly an hour.
THE PREDICTED LINE-UPS
CHARLEROI
Felice Mazzu has often preferred a back three system, particularly at Union SG, and that is how they set up in their defeat to Cercle. That defeating loss may have precipitated change but, given the injury issues they have, they are likely to name the same eleven.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Koffi; Boukamir, Andreou, Knezevic; Rogelj, Ilaimaharitra, Zorgane, Monticelli; Heymans, Mbenza; Dabagh
UNAVAILABLE: Stulic (Suspended), Tchatchoua (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Marcq (Injured), Tshiend (Injury), Van Cleemput (Injured), Benbouali (Injured)
STANDARD LIEGE
Carl Hoefkens played a back three with Club Brugge but Standard Liege have been played a 4-5-1 system which, despite their poor results, he is expected to stick with for the time being but they will have to make an irritating change due to William Balikwisha’s red card last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-5-1): Bodart; Fossey, Bope, Vanheusden, Barrett; Dragus, Kawabe, O’Neill, Price, Donnum; Ohio
UNAVAILABLE: Balikwisha (Suspended), Dewaele (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The last couple of years have been difficult for Felice Mazzu. After leading Union SG to top-of-the-table in the 2021/22 regular season, he departed for their city rivals Anderlecht and performed very badly at a club that have consistently underperformed. Given that that was backed up with Charleroi missing out on the top eight, questions may soon be asked. Standard Liege have started poorly but will go away from home and set up to be reactive, especially without Balikwisha, and a counter-attacking style could suit them in this match.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – STANDARD LIEGE TO WIN OR DRAW
