Club - RSC Anderlecht: the Club Facts

At this year's first appointment at Jan Breydel, we get the visit of RSC Anderlecht. Find out all the facts about the match and our opponent here!

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THE MATCH

It is the 182nd confrontation between the two teams. Club's previous 90 home matches against RSCA resulted in 42 wins (last time 3-0 on 04/10/2020), 30 draws (last time 1-1 on 22/05/2022) and 18 defeats (last time 1-2 on 06/05/2018). In the last 15 mutual duels with RSCA, Club lost only once. At Jan Breydel, Club is 7 league matches in a row unbeaten against purple and white.

Club better stay focused against Anderlecht, because 13 of the last 16 goals by purple-white against Club, were scored in the last half hour.

Earlier this season, Club went on to win with the smallest difference at Anderlecht. On a pass from Hans Vanaken, Casper Nielsen was able to score the only goal of the match in mid-October.

Top marksman Ferran Jutglà (8 goals) is still uncertain for Sunday. Good and bad news for Parker: Raphael Onyedika returns from suspension, but Abakar Sylla is suspended against purple-white. Casper Nielsen and Denis Odoi must avoid a yellow card to avoid missing the match against Sporting Charleroi.

THE OPPONENT

RSC Anderlecht lost 10 of 19 league matches so far. That is the highest number of defeats in as many matches since the 1922-23 season (then 13). As a result, RSCA is now in 11th place in the rankings. Sporting scored 10 out of 27 on the road. Only KV Mechelen, Zulte Waregem and KV Oostende did worse. Anderlecht won at STVV (0-3), KV Mechelen (1-3), and Sporting Charleroi (0-1), drew at Antwerp (0-0) and lost at Cercle Brugge (1-0), Union (2-1), Westerlo (2-1), Zulte Waregem (3-2) and Standard (5-0; f.f.).

In their last 2 away matches, Anderlecht was able to keep the zero each time. They have not managed a clean sheet in 3 away matches since October-November 2013. This is the fourth match under new coach Bian Riemer. On his debut, he forced league leader KRC Genk into extensions in the cup match, but had to lose there (1-0). In the league, there was away success with a win at Sporting Charleroi (0-1). Last weekend, however, purple and white went down 1-3 against city rivals Union.

Top shooter is 20-year-old Portuguese Fábio Silva (7 goals). Ex-Club midfielder Lior Refaelov is the assist king. He sets 5 teammates on their way to a goal.

This weekend, the club reinforced itself with Danish 24-year-old flanker Anders Dreyer (Midtjylland). 20-year-old defender Moussa N'Diaye is still eligible to play for the match against Club. Despite his red card against Union, the suspension does not go into effect until match day 21.

MIJLPALS

- Eduard Sobol can play his 125th match for Club.

- For Denis Odoi it could be the 40th match at Blauw-Zwart.

- Raphael Onyedika can be in action for the 20th time at FCB.

- Lynnt Audoor can play his 10th match for Club.

- Éder Balanta and Noa Lang can play their 80th league match for Club.

- For TJ Buchanan, it could be the 25th match in the JP League.

- Casper Nielsen played every league match for Club so it could be his 20th for Club.

- Dedryck Boyata can play his 10th league match for Club.

- Simon Mignolet can play for the 190th time in the Belgian First Division (66 for STVV, 123 so far for Club).

REFEREE

Nathan Verboomen was designated ref for the classic. He will be assisted by assistant refs Mathias Hillaert and Ruben Wyns and by fourth official Brent Staessens. The VAR on duty is Kevin Van Damme, flanked by Lennert Jans and Dieter Van Esch. Verboomen is whistling Club's 18th official match and Sporting's 16th. Blauw-Zwart's 9 previous home matches under his direction ended in 7 wins and 2 draws. 8 previous away matches of purple-white with Verboomen as ref finished on 1 win, 3 draws and 4 defeats.