Preview: Leuven vs. RWD Molenbeek - prediction, team news, lineups

OHL played out a draw at Charleroi last weekend, while newly-promoted Molenbeek were annihilated 4-0 against Genk.

Match preview

The feeling around Leuven after the 1-1 draw with Charleroi in the first gameweek was probably bittersweet.

Despite finding a way to equalise — through Nathaniel Opoku's 84th-minute penalty — the away side could not believe it was just 1-1 after dominating and creating several chances after halftime.

The disappointment of not beating 10 men must hurt, as there were more than 70 minutes left to play after Nikola Stulic's dismissal.

Marc Brys' side narrowly missed out on the Playoff II last season, a post-regular season mini league among four sides (placed fifth to eighth), giving the leader a shot at a Europa Conference League, as they ended in 10th — two points shy of Cercle Brugge.

OHL will hope to start brighter this time, intending to benefit from the return to the competition's old format after the regular season — by making the top six to play the Champions League playoffs or ranking between seventh or 12 to play in the Europe playoffs.

A promising preseason — five wins from six — puts Brys' team in good stead for a quick start to their league season, and they could claim their first win of the campaign in front of their fans.

As for RWDM, they were hit with a baptism of fire in their first game since gaining promotion, going into the interlude 3-0 down at home to Genk in the eventual 4-0 loss.

The champions of the Challenger Pro League must show something different in Saturday's game in Leuven, as they seek to avoid being gluttons for punishment even at this early stage in their season.

Claudio Cacapa's team are currently bottom of the embryonic standings, but supporters of the newly-promoted side hope the club's situation gets better as the season develops.

With the bottom four clubs to be involved in the relegation playoffs at the end of the regular season, ending outside those positions months later will be a successful 2023-24.

It is still a long road ahead for the side from Brussels, and they will hope they show they belong at the top level against Leuven on Saturday.

Leuven Belgian Pro League form:

D

Leuven form (all competitions):

RWD Molenbeek Belgian Pro League form:

L

Team News

Ezechiel Banzuzi ran the game from midfield for OHL despite only drawing at Charleroi in gameweek one, making the teenager almost assured of a place on Saturday.

Standard Liege loanee Alexandro Calut suffered a knee injury before the start of the campaign, and the on-loan left-back is expected to miss this weekend's action.

Otherwise, it is a home side with a clean bill of health heading into gameweek two, so a similar lineup from last week could be selected.

Kylian Hazard suffered an unfortunate cruciate ligament rupture in the off-season, potentially ruling out the RWDM man for the season's entirety.

A 5-4-1 is expected to be deployed by Cacapa, whose team seek to improve on last week's hammering against Genk.

Leuven possible starting lineup:

Cojocaru; Sagrado, Pletinckx, Ricca, Mendyl; Banzuzi, Schrijvers, Holzhauser; Viletinck, Opoku, Thorsteinsson

RWD Molenbeek possible starting lineup:

Defourny; Ouahdi, Heris, Klaus, Joncour, Abner; Dailly, De Sart, Gece, Mercier; Biron

We say: Leuven 2-0 RWD Molenbeek

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