Charleroi are set to play host to Royal Antwerp at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi on Sunday in their opening fixture of the 2024-25 Belgian Pro League season.
The hosts extended their stay in the top flight to 13 years by finishing top of the relegation playoffs last year, while the visitors, after finishing third in the regular season, suffered a disappointing collapse and placed bottom of the Championship playoffs.
Match preview
After narrowly missing out on the European playoffs in 2022-23, finishing two points behind eighth-placed Cercle Brugge, Charleroi would have been aiming to compete in the extended Europa Conference League playoffs in the past campaign.
However, Charleroi had a dismal start to the season that saw them go seven games without a victory, and a further run of one win in their final seven league fixtures condemned them to the relegation playoffs.
The Zebras showed significant improvement in their relegation playoff matches, going unbeaten with five wins across the six matches, finishing a considerable 14 points ahead of Kortrijk and securing their place in the top flight for a 13th consecutive year.
Rik De Mil was appointed manager ahead of the relegation playoff matches, and the Belgian is still yet to suffer defeat as Charleroi boss, with his side also winning two and drawing one of their three pre-season friendlies.
In stark contrast, Antwerp enjoyed a successful regular season, entering into the Championship playoffs in third place after picking up 52 points from their 30 outings.
The Great Old went through a dismal decline in the Championship playoffs, though, losing eight of their 10 matches and consigning themselves to the bottom of the post-split table.
Mark van Bommel, who famously led Antwerp to their first league title in 66 years in 2022-23 with a dramatic final-day triumph over Union SG and Genk - secured by Toby Alderweireld's 94th-minute equaliser - departed the club ahead of the new campaign, with Jonas De Roeck taking charge.
De Roeck has overseen a win, draw and a loss in their three friendly matches in preparation for the upcoming season, and the Belgian coach will be hoping to get off to the perfect start in his first competitive match in charge.
Team News
The hosts should have a fully-fit squad to choose from for their opening game of the season, and De Mil could name the same side that won their last pre-season friendly match.
Parfait Guiagon led their goalscoring charts last campaign, netting six times in the league, and he is expected to feature in an attack alongside Daan Heymans, Antoine Bernier and Youssuf Sylla.
As for the visitors, their only notable absence will be central defender Bjorn Engels, who is a doubt for the match after picking up a hamstring injury.
The departure of talented 17-year-old striker George Ilenikhena to AS Monaco will leave last season's top scorer, Vincent Janssen, as the main source of goals in the coming term, and Janssen is expected to start here.
Charleroi possible starting lineup:
Kone; Petris, Keita, Andreou, Dragsnes; Camara, Zorgane; Heymans, Guiagon, Bernier; Sylla
Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:
Lammens; Keita, Van Den Bosch, Alderweireld, Costa; Yusuf, Keita; Balikwisha, Ekkelenkamp, Ondrejka; Janssen
We say: Charleroi 1-1 Royal Antwerp
Charleroi have been in phenomenal form since the arrival of De Mil as manager, but Antwerp boast a much stronger squad and are sure to challenge the hosts, suggesting that this one could end in a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
