Jupiler Pro League: Who will take the lead after Matchday 4?

Seemingly unnoticed, the weeks in the Jupiler Pro League follow one another quickly. While major leagues such as Ligue 1, the Premier League, and La Liga resume this weekend, our Belgian championship has already reached its fourth matchday.

With mixed fortunes for each contender. Anderlecht started the competition perfectly with two wins, but the Mauves stumbled at home against Zulte-Waregem.

The Brussels side have therefore lost their top spot to Union Saint-Gilloise. The defending champions claimed a commanding victory away at Gent on Matchday 3. By also winning their clash against Genk, Standard Liège under Mircea Rednic is equally at the top of a still tightly packed table.

Surprise packages Sint-Truiden and Mechelen also sit on 7 points, while Anderlecht and Club Brugge are not far from first place. On Belgium’s best online betting site, GoldenVegas Sport, there’s still time to predict who will lift the trophy next May.

*Odds subject to change. Event ends: August 15 at 20:45.

Union vs Standard: The Clash for first place

This weekend, the standings will start to stretch, and for teams with ambitions, losing is simply not an option. While four teams currently share the top of the table, two of them meet on Saturday.

Fans are eager to see what the Rouches will bring to the Duden Park. The Liège side finally broke their curse by winning at Sclessin after 196 days without a victory. And what could possibly stop them now?

“No one can tell me anymore that Standard haven’t won in 200-something days. We played the Italian way, we were pragmatic,” smiled Mircea Rednic. Even if the football isn’t dazzling, supporters are embracing this realistic style of play.

“It’s almost unexpected, this 7 out of 9 points, with all these changes,” admitted the coach. “We knew Genk had quality, so we had to fight with our own weapons.” Weapons they will need again against the reigning champions.

Watch out for Brussels set pieces

The Principality club has been warned: they must watch out for Union Saint-Gilloise’s set pieces. In Gent, all three of their goals came from this tactic – an exceptional number for a single match.

The secret? The expertise of Artur Kopyt. Sébastien Pocognoli’s assistant has turned it into a deadly weapon for the Yellows. The Pole arrived four years ago with Félice Mazzù and is now the longest-serving member of the technical staff.

“Since last season, he’s been the one working on all our attacking set pieces, and we really dedicate time to it,” goalkeeper Vic Chambaere told the press. “It’s important to integrate this work throughout the week, not just 15 minutes at the end of the last session before the match. We spend about an hour on it, spread over all sessions – sometimes even more. These are the small details that make the difference,” Pocognoli explained.

It remains to be seen which playing philosophy will prevail for top spot in the standings: Standard’s quick offensive transitions or Union Saint-Gilloise’s impeccable technical control?

Odds subject to change. Event ends: August 16 at 20:45.

Zulte vs Brugge: Like a Derby

One week after winning the Bruges derby against Cercle, the Blauw en Zwart are on cloud nine. This Tuesday, however, they had doubts against Red Bull Salzburg in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

With a one-goal lead secured in Austria in the first leg, Nicky Hayen’s men were comfortable, but quickly found themselves two goals down — virtually eliminated! Yet the Belgians delivered a masterclass in the last 30 minutes.

Seys, Forbs, and Vanaken pulled off a comeback, and the club from the Venice of the North are now just 180 minutes away from the Champions League group stage. They’ll need to beat the Glasgow Rangers this Tuesday in the first leg in Scotland.

In Zulte-Waregem this Saturday, rotation will likely be the plan. The trip is tricky, especially as the promoted side is in good form — as shown by their win at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park. Will Brugge win and return to the top of the table, or will Zulte, with 4 points from 9, spring a surprise like Mechelen did 15 days ago against Belgium’s vice-champions?

*Odds subject to change. Event ends: August 16 at 16:00.

Play responsibly and enjoy a BetXtra when betting on a match from the fourth Jupiler Pro League matchday.