European Cup: After Häcken nightmare, Anderlecht wants to restore its honour

Honestly, nobody saw it coming. Neither did they. Last Thursday, Anderlecht were knocked out by Häcken in the second qualifying round of the Europa League, despite winning the first leg at home by a single goal. Everyone thought the hardest part was done.

Especially since the Mauves had dominated Westerlo (5-2) on the opening day of the Jupiler Pro League. But on the pitch of Sweden’s ninth-placed team, who had just lost 6-1 in their domestic league the previous weekend, Anderlecht turned red with embarrassment.

Although they bounced back against Cercle Brugge on the second matchday of the Jupiler Pro League, the Brussels side cannot afford any mistakes after being relegated to the third qualifying round of the Conference League against Sheriff Tiraspol. Will they manage to kill the tie in the first leg against the Moldovans?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: August 7 at 8:00 PM

Hasi already out at Anderlecht?

One thing is certain: Besnik Hasi is already under pressure. A default choice when he was appointed at the start of the championship playoffs last March, the Albanian coach was kept on this summer for lack of a better option. But he has lost significant credibility after this premature elimination.

“Nobody was at the right level. There was too much waste in our game, no intensity, we didn’t want the ball, we were always late. We could have conceded more before halftime. On the 1-0, we didn’t defend well and didn’t react quickly enough to prevent the goal,” he admitted, acknowledging “that we were dramatic.”

He himself was forced to make two substitutions after 36 minutes because his tactics weren’t working. “I feared we could be 2-0 or 3-0 down by halftime if I didn’t act. Vroninks perhaps wasn’t ready for a match like this. He has no experience at this level. But it must also be said that he wasn’t helped by his teammates. And Ali Maamar also struggled. The second goal came from his side. It’s painful to say, but these are lessons for them.”

Lessons for him as well. Now, the Lotto Park side find themselves four matches away from the league phase of the Conference League. They start as favourites against Tiraspol. Will they bounce back in front of their home crowd with a multi-goal victory, as offered by Belgium’s top online sports betting site, Golden Vegas Sport?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: August 7 at 8:00 PM

Bertaccini, Anderlecht’s new darling?

A small consolation for the fans: the management managed to bring in Adriano Bertaccini from Sint-Truiden for a fee of 6 million euros. The top Belgian scorer of the last Jupiler Pro League season is already a fan favourite.

On Sunday at the Jan Breydel Stadium, he scored his first goal in an Anderlecht shirt just 18 minutes after coming on. That’s what you call a successful debut. It was enough to excite fans already thrilled by his arrival in Neerpede.

“They always say the hardest thing for a striker is to score the first goal. People often talk about the curse. This should help me feel more comfortable for the next matches and take a lot of pressure off,” admitted the new forward.

The love story is already strong for a player who would play anywhere on the pitch for the purple shirt. “What I prefer is playing around a No.9 and making the most of the spaces he creates. But for this magnificent club, I’ll play in any system. I’m a fighter.”

And he has made his goal clear: “Alright, I’ll say around fifteen, like last season. And anything I score beyond that is a bonus.” So now there are only 14 to go. Will that number go down this Thursday?

*Odds are subject to change. Event ends: August 7 at 8:00 PM

Enjoy a BetXtra by betting live on Anderlecht’s match against Tiraspol and all other matches in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League as well as the Europa League and Conference League.