Soccer
Competition: Belgium Pro League
Market: Club Brugge win
Odds: 4/9 @ Pribet
Knowing that they can officially reclaim their Pro League crown on Thursday night, Club Brugge will make the trip to a struggling KV Mechelen.
Starting with the hosts, while KV Mechelen might have clung to a 1-0 victory against Gent earlier in the month as they opened May with a much-welcomed domestic boost, Frederik Vanderbiest’s side have drastically failed to find any kind of stability. Hit with a routine 3-0 drumming at the hands of Royale Union on May 10th, the Antwerp-based outfit have mustered just a sole win from any of their previous nine consecutive top-flight showdowns and they will be bracing themselves for what is another monumental challenge on Thursday night. Falling to a nightmare 6-1 drumming when they last met Club Brugge for a Pro League showdown back on April 22nd, it is no surprise that the Belgium strugglers are pencilled in as a landslide underdog when they return to Achter de Kazerne in midweek. Likewise, signing off April with a 4-1 defeat against St. Truiden, Thursday’s hosts have rightfully gained an unwanted reputation for their glaring issues at the back. In fact, despite being last seen snatching a rollercoaster 2-2 stalemate against Anderlecht, KV Mechelen have conceded at least a pair of goals in five of their previous six outings.
As for the visitors, last seen putting in another sensational performance as they stormed their way to an empathic 5-0 romp at home against Royale Union, Club Brugge are on the cusp on making real history. Riding what has been a sensational wave of momentum, Ivan Leko’s side know that they can officially be crowned as Pro League champions on Thursday night and they have certainly been handed a golden opportunity in midweek. Getting May underway with a routine 3-1 win away at historic rivals Anderlecht, the Belgium giants are enjoying a major purple patch. Including that stellar 6-1 romp when they last met KV Mechelen back on April 22nd, Club Brugge have now won all of their previous five consecutive Pro League appearances and they are rightfully installed as a standout contender here. Likewise, gaining a fearsome reputation for their free-scoring performances in the final third, Leko’s side have remarkably bagged 25 goals since getting their play-off adventure underway last month. Given what has been a huge recent gulf in class, it is no surprise that we are backing Club Brugge to recapture their domestic crown on Thursday night.
Bet: Club Brugge 4/9 to beat KV Mechelen in Thursday’s Belgium Pro League showdown @ Pribet
Read MoreTom Dunstan