PLOEG NEWS
STANDARD
Standard is third in the standings with 17 points and counts one point less than Club. The Rouches scored victories against Cercle Brugge (1-0), Waasland-Beveren (1-2), Beerschot (0-3), KV Kortrijk (2-1) and Charleroi (1-2) and drew against KRC Genk (0-0) and Zulte Waregem (2-2). The Liikenaars suffered only one defeat at Den Dreef against OH Leuven (1-0). Standard achieved 8 out of 12 at home and is still unbeaten at Sclessin with two wins and two draws this season. Last summer some changes took place at the Rouches. Philippe Montanier succeeded Michel Preud'homme as the new head coach and furthermore some players left the team including Vojvoda (FC Torino), Lavalée (FSV Mainz 05), Sá (Malaga CF), Miangue (KAS Eupen via Cagliari), Milinkovic-Savic (FC Torino) and Ugbo (Deportivo La Coruña). New names at the Fiery City include Henkinet (OH Leuven), Muleka (TP Mazembe), Jans (FC Metz) and Sylvestre (OGC Nice). At the home team, Maxime Lestienne an Obbi Oulare have a sporting past at Blauw-Zwart.
The selection: Gillet, Bodart, Henkinet, Vanheusden, Dussenne, Fai, Gavory, Jans, Laifis, Cimirot, Carcela, Shamir, Bope Bokadi, Raskin, Bastien, Cop, Oulare, Lestienne and Balikwisha.
CLUB BRUGGE
Thanks to the deserved 3-0 win against Anderlecht, Blauw-Zwart is within one point of league leader Charleroi. With a possible win against Standard, the national champion jumps over the Zebras who will be on the turf tomorrow in Genk. Statistics show that a move to Sclessin is no sinecure. Club could only win once of the last seven matches at Sclessin. Furthermore, both teams shared the points three times and the Rouches drew the longest three times against the visitors from Bruges. Last season, both teams kept each other in balance. At Jan Breydel it was 1-1 after goals from Bastien and Okereke, in Liege the 0-0 remained on the scoreboard. The national champion has a busy schedule with 18 important matches in 10 weeks, but will resolutely go for a good result against Standard. Recruit Noa Lang is immediately in the squad and may make his debut at Blauw-Zwart.
The selection: Mignolet, Horvath, Lammens, Sobol, Deli, Ricca, Mata, Mechele, Kossounou, Balanta, Schrijvers, Vanaken, Vormer, Rits, De Ketelaere, Diatta, Badji, Dennis, Krmenčík, Lang and Okereke.
REFEREE - NICOLAS LAFORGE
Nicolas Laforge is in charge of the topper at Sclessin. He will be assisted by linesmen Laurent Conotte and Christophe Battiston, fourth official is Kevin Van Damme. The video referee is Bert Put.
IN THE VIEWER
STANDARD - NICOLAS RASKIN
Nicolas Raskin has played positively in the spotlight for the Rouches in recent months. With three assists and his winning goal against Charleroi, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder was of golden value for his team. The talented youngster has not missed a single league game and has become one of the revelations for the Liège side. Raskin went through almost all of Standard's youth series and, after a brief interlude with Anderlecht youth, made his professional debut as a 16-year-old with KAA Gent during a game against STVV. In January 2019, the young Belgian returned to Sclessin where he has since made many strides.
