Preview: Anderlecht vs. Royal Antwerp - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, got off to a winning start after lifting their first top flight title for 66 years in June.

Match preview

Belgium's record 34-time champions Anderlecht, on the other hand, finished a distant 11th in the Belgian Pro League last season, as they struggled to recover from losing Vincent Kompany to Burnley.

The former Manchester City defender's replacement in Anderlecht's managerial dugout lasted just four months in charge, with Brian Riemer drafted in as Felice Mazzu's successor in December last year.

The Dane, who previously worked as an assistant coach at Brentford, has managed to hold onto his job despite struggling to make a positive impact, and the pressure on him is only likely to increase after losing 2-0 away to Union Saint-Gilloise last weekend.

The fixture list has not been particularly kind early on to the Purple and White, who will not exactly fancy their chances of gaining a positive result against the reigning champions at Lotto Park on Sunday.

Indeed, very few people would have predicted Antwerp breaking their 66-year duck in terms of Belgian top flight titles, but former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel worked wonders in his debut campaign at the club.

The former PSV Eindhoven and Wolfsburg boss guided his players to the most miraculous of title triumphs, with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld's injury-time equaliser away to Genk snatching the trophy away from their opponents with almost the last kick of the season.

Whether they will be able to replicate that this season remains to be seen, but either way they will have the excitement of competing in the Champions League for the first time in their history to look forward to, with an upcoming play-off round to navigate their way into the group stage of Europe's elite competition.

Having finished in the top four positions in each of the last five seasons, though, there is nothing to suggest that The Reds are going anywhere anytime soon, and they would dearly love to lay down a marker by defeating their nation's most successful ever club on their own patch this weekend.

Anderlecht Belgian Pro League form:

W

W

D

L

L

L

Anderlecht form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

W

L

Royal Antwerp Belgian Pro League form:

W

W

L

D

D

W

Royal Antwerp form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

W

Team News

Anderlecht will remain without Yari Verschaeren due to a long-term knee injury, while Michael Murillo is expected to miss out once again due to a hamstring issue.

Jan Vertonghen will line-up against his former Spurs central defensive partner Alderweireld, with both players set to captain their respective teams.

Antwerp, meanwhile, may travel without Ortwin De Wolf, Davino Verhulst, Bjorn Engels, Kobe Corbanie and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp due to injury problems.

Gaston Avila is suspended after his dismissal during van Bommel's Super Cup victory against Mechelen, with the former Barcelona midfielder unlikely to make many changes from last weekend's victory against Cercle Brugge.

Anderlecht possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Patris, Debast, Vertonghen, N'Diaye; Ashimeru, Diawara, Arnstad; Dreyer, Dolberg, Amuzu

Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:

Butez; De Laet, Alderweireld, Van Den Bosch, Bataille; Yusuf, Vermeeren; Kerk, Ondrejka, Balikwisha; Janssen

We say: Anderlecht 1-1 Royal Antwerp

Although there is little to split these sides in terms of individual quality, it is clear to see which club is riding the crest of a wave at present, with the other at their lowest ebb for some time.

However, we would not be surprised to see the two sides settle for a point apiece on Sunday, with Anderlecht particularly desperate to avoid defeat after losing their opening match.

Previews by email