Royal Antwerp aiming for third trophy under Mark van Bommel against KV Mechelen in Belgian Super Cup
Royal Antwerp vs KV Mechelen - 23/07/2023
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Football returns in Belgium this weekend, with the Belgian Super Cup between reigning Jupiler Pro League and Belgian Cup champions Royal Antwerp and KV Mechelen.
Antwerp won the Belgian title in one of the most dramatic final days anywhere in European football. Now, manager Mark van Bommel can win a third trophy in four months, with a victory over KV Mechelen on Sunday.
Royal Antwerp have spent big in recent seasons. Their spending paid off with a domestic double last season. Van Bommel is now tasked with doing even more this season, including getting Antwerp through the Champions League qualification playoff round and into the group stage.
KV Mechelen lost the cup final to Antwerp last April, 2-0. Despite making a strong cup run and reaching the final, 2022-23 was an overall poor season for De Kakkers. Mechelen posted a regular season record of 11W-7D-16L and scored 49 goals while conceding 63 times.
Royal Antwerp won three matches against Mechelen last season in all competitions. Antwerp went to KVM and won 2-0 in the league before posting a 5-0 home win. The Reds then won 2-0 in the cup final thanks to goals from Vincent Janssen and Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Van Bommel signed forward George Ilennikhena from Amiens for €6 million this offseason. He also added Jacob Ondrejka for €1.5m from Elfsborg.
The Dutchman did see Willian Pacho depart for Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt. He has kept the core of the title-winning team together. Janssen will likely lead the line against Mechelen. Antwerp typically play a 4-4-2 under Van Bommel.
Centre-back Bjorn Engels is likely out of action with a tendon problem. Right-back Kobe Corbanie is unlikely to play following an operation.
KV Mechelen manager Steven Defour took over the reins of the club in October 2022 and steered the team away from relegation. He also masterminded Mechelen’s cup run.
Defour is a former Mechelen player who made stop-offs at Burnley and Standard Liege. He is only 35 and still has plenty of learning to do. Defour has no fresh injury issues going into the first game of the season.
Mechelen’s transfer business has been more modest compared to Royal Antwerp. De Kakkers signed right-back Rafik Belghali for €400,000 from Lommel SK. He is their only paid transfer this offseason.
Antwerp won three matches against Mechelen last season without conceding a goal. The Reds should post another victory against Mechelen and keep a clean sheet. The Belgian Super Cup should finish 2-0 in favour of Royal Antwerp at home.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
BeS
451242
1
2 - 0
1.25
20°
1.50
1.50
4.00
5.50
no
no
no
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