Kortrijk vs Standard Liege Preview & Prediction
When is Kortrijk vs Standard Liege on and what time does it start? Kortrijk vs Standard Liege will take place on Saturday 24 August, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Kortrijk vs Standard Liege? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Kortrijk vs Standard Liege in the UK? Kortrijk vs Standard Liege will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
KORTRIJK
K The 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League season will have fewer teams than previously with the league reduced from 18 to 16 teams. This means the sides that finished just above last season’s bottom three and the relegation places will be even more concerned by the prospect of dropping down into the second-tier or at least being involved in a long relegation battle throughout the campaign.
Kortrijk are indeed one of those sides. They have also started the season extremely poorly and begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting rock-bottom in the table. The home team began their season with an entertaining 3-2 loss away to Gent, which was an encouraging performance given they took the lead, but have since lost 1-0 at home to Sint-Truiden, 6-0 at the hands of reigning champions Royal Antwerp and then 3-1 at home to a Eupen side who were also expected to struggle. They are the only side yet to collect a point in the league this season.
STANDARD LIEGE
Standard Liege are one of the so-called ‘big three’ sides in Belgian football but over the last half a decade or so, they have badly struggled. They had a much-improved year last year, though, comfortably finishing in the top eight under Ronny Deila but Deila left for their arch-rivals Club Brugge towards the end of the season. Their form fell off a cliff and that has continued into this campaign.
They have so far suffered three 1-0 defeats and shared a 1-1 draw in their opening four matches. Under former Club Brugge boss Carl Hoefkens, they began with defeats to Sint-Truiden and likely title challengers Union SG before a point against a struggling Charleroi side and then defeat at home to a Cercle side who do appear to be quite strong this season.
THE TEAM NEWS
KORTRIJK
Kortrijk are without several players due to injury, including striker Thierry Ambrose, as well as Uruguayan midfielder Felipe Avenatti due to his suspension.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Vandenberghe; Mehssatou, Silva, Wasinski; Mbayo, Audoor, Sissako, De Neve; Kadri; Davies, Bruno
UNAVAILABLE: Avenatti (Suspended), Ambrose (Injured), Radovanovic (Injured), Challouk (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Henen (Injured)
STANDARD LIEGE
Standard Liege are struggling this season and they will be without Renaud Emond due to an injury, whilst Croatian forward Stipe Perica is a doubt for the match also due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Bodart; Vanheusden, Bope, Ngoy; Fossey, Balikwisha, O’Neill, Price, Donnum; Dragus, Kanga
UNAVAILABLE: Emond (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Perica (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
These are two of the biggest strugglers so far this season and ahead of the fifth round of 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League fixtures, both of these teams occupy a spot in the bottom four of the table. Kortrijk have major injury issues in attack with the suspension of Felipe Avenatti and injury to Thierry Ambrose meaning their striking duo from last week will have to change with Isaak Davies and, likely, Massimo Bruno in the side and those are slightly out of position so they could be quite blunt. Given that Standard will simply to start collecting points and have eventually reverted to Hoefkens’ preference of a 3-5-2 system, this is unlikely to be a thriller for the neutrals with neither side keen on taking many risks.
