RWDM vs Mechelen Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
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THE FACTS
When is RWDM vs Mechelen on and what time does it start? RWDM vs Mechelen will take place on Saturday 12th August, 2023 – 15:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for RWDM vs Mechelen? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch RWDM vs Mechelen in the UK? RWDM vs Mechelen will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
RWDM
Under the ownership of John Textor, who is a majority shareholder at Crystal Palace as well as the owner of both Olympique Lyonnais and Botafogo, Racing White Daring Molenbeek gained promotion to the Belgian top-flight by winning the Challenger Pro League last season. They are expected to struggle this season, though, especially with the league being reduced from 18 teams to 16 teams and therefore squeezing the weaker sides down at the bottom end of the Jupiler Pro League table.
After gaining promotion with Vincent Euvrard last season, Textor and RWDM took the decision to replace the Belgian with former Newcastle United defender Claucio Cacapa. Cacapa has coached the Brazilian under-15 side as well as being the long-term assistant at Textor’s other club Lyon and interim coach at another Textor club Botafogo earlier this year. Cacapa has begun his reign in charge with a mixed bag. They were hammered 4-0 at home by Genk on the opening day but Genk are likely title challengers, before following that up with an impressive 2-1 win away to Oud-Heverlee Leuven.
MECHELEN
Last season Mechelen finished the 2022/23 Jupiler Pro League campaign in 13th place, just three above the bottom three and the relegation places. Now, with the aforementioned reduction in teams from 18 to 16, they will be concerned of dropping into the second-tier or at least a prolonged battle against relegation. They begin this season still under the management of former Burnley, Standard Liege and Belgium international midfielder Steven Defour and they have started quite poorly.
Their opening day encounter saw them earn a surprise 1-1 draw with Ronny Deila’s Club Brugge, albeit Club Brugge were down to ten men for the final 15 minutes of the match. They followed that up with a slender 1-0 defeat at home to Gent last weekend. A saving grace and bit of mitigation for Defour and Mechelen would be that both of those sides will be expected to challenge towards the very top end of the table this season.
THE PREDICTED LINE-UPS
RWDM
So far this season, Claudio Cacapa has preferred a 3-4-3 system and, given that they come into this on the back of an impressive and surprising 2-1 win away to OH Leuven, they are expected to be unchanged for this encounter this weekend.
The hosts are blessed with a fully available squad due to no reported injuries or official suspensions ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Defourny; Heris, Klaus, Le Joncour; El Ouahdi, Dwomoh, De Sart, Abner; Dailly, Biron, Mercier
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
MECHELEN
Steven Defour, throughout last season, has preferred a 4-2-3-1 system and that is how they have started in the opening two matches of this campaign.
Despite collecting just one point in their opening two matches, Mechelen have put in steady and solid performances against strong opposition so, whilst they are still without Boli Bolingoli who suffered a hamstring injury on the opening day of the season, they are expected to be unchanged from last week.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Coucke; Belghali, Vanlerberghe, Lavalee, Foulon; Mukau, Schoofs; Ngoy, Mrabti, Storm; Lauberbach
UNAVAILABLE: Bolingoli (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Claudio Cacapa’s RWDM side will be looking to make amends for their opening home match in which they were welcomed back to the top-flight by being annihilated by one of the strongest teams in the league. Their victory away from home last weekend, though, will give them confidence, albeit fairly reactive in their approach and seeking to limit their opposition before springing on them. Given that Mechelen have followed a similar plan this season so far in terms of being defensively solid, this may not be a thriller for the neutral and a low-scoring encounter is to be expected on Saturday afternoon.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
