European Cups: Belgian clubs enter the race this Thursday

A tough road lies ahead. This Thursday, Charleroi and Anderlecht will begin their qualifying rounds, respectively in the Conference League and the Europa League. If our two clubs from the Jupiler Pro League want to reach the group stage, they’ll need to overcome three rounds — six matches in total.

It's a real kickoff to their season, while clubs from smaller nations already began their European battle two weeks ago, starting even further back than our Belgian sides. And the task is already a tough one for Charleroi, who will travel to Stockholm, Sweden, to face Hammarby in the Conference League.

Anderlecht, for their part, will compete in the more prestigious Europa League. They will also take on a Swedish side — Häcken — a team that looks weaker on paper, but nothing is guaranteed in these kinds of encounters. Will the Mauves get the job done right from the first leg at home in Parc Astrid?

*Odds may change. End of event: July 24 at 8 PM.

A successful preparation for Anderlecht

To help you place your bets wisely on GoldenVegas Sport while playing responsibly, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know — starting with the form of the Brussels side.

While the decision raised eyebrows and was even misunderstood, the management led by Olivier Renard decided to keep Besnik Hasi despite his difficult track record since joining last March. The season hasn’t even started yet, and the Albanian coach is already under pressure. An early elimination from the European Cup would seriously undermine his position.

And the coach won’t be able to count on his full squad. Thorgan Hazard is still not at 100%. Jan-Carlo Simic remains doubtful, which could be great news for Marco Kana, who had previously been sidelined at Saint-Guidon. Youngster Tristan Degreef is also expected to start.

Luis Vazquez, who scored ten goals in pre-season, is likely to start on the bench in favour of Kasper Dolberg. But the Argentine, who also bagged four goals against Dutch side MVV Maastricht, is on fire. Will he leave his mark on this game for Sporting?

Odds may change. End of event: July 24 at 8 PM.

Charleroi aims for an upset against Zlatan

Still in Scandinavia, another Sporting club will represent Belgium and contribute to our UEFA coefficient. While the Pro League season has kicked off with the traditional Belgian Supercup and the championship resumes this weekend, Charleroi takes center stage on the European scene for the first time in five years.

In 2020, the Zebras hit the wall in the Europa League play-offs, losing at home in Mambourg behind closed doors due to COVID, against Lech Poznan. Now, the team from the Sambre region dares to dream again — but the draw hasn't been kind to them.

They will face Hammarby, currently second in a Swedish championship played on a calendar-year basis. Their opponents are in full rhythm and good form. At the 3Arena, Rik De Mil’s men will face a unique club — one partly owned by none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Romsaas as the main asset

The artificial pitch will also be a challenge, but the Hennuyers believe in their chances. They’ve had a solid pre-season, including a seven-day training camp in the Netherlands that ended with a 2–1 win over Utrecht.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything against Hammarby, but we wrapped up a good camp perfectly,” said De Mil. “I saw a team on the pitch — that’s what really matters. Even without players like Zorgane and Heymans, who have great qualities, we still played our game.”

It’s another layer of difficulty, as the coach reminds us. Zorgane and Heymans have moved to Union and Genk respectively, but Charleroi brought in Camara and Romsaas to fill the gap.

Romsaas made an impressive debut, scoring the equalizer against Utrecht. For his first experience far from his native Norway, the attacking midfielder already looks sharp. Thursday’s outcome will also depend on his current form.

If Charleroi gets through, they’ll face either Rosenborg of Norway or FK Banga from Lithuania. But first, they must win in Stockholm before the return leg in Mambourg on Thursday, July 31. Will they return from Scandinavia like true Vikings — with a win?

*Odds may change. End of event: July 24 at 7 PM.

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