Oostende vs Cercle Brugge Live Stream, Predictions

📏 Form Guide

Oostende

LLLLLL 🚑

Oostende will be wanting a better result here following a 0-3 First Division A defeat in their last game at the hands of Antwerp.

In that game, Oostende managed 54% possession and 16 shots on goal with 3 of them on target. On the other side, Royal Antwerp had 12 attempts on goal with 6 of them on target. Arbnor Muja (11'), Vincent Janssen (21') and Bruny Nsimba (88') scored for Antwerp.

Their more recent scorelines highlight the fact that quality has been lacking in the Oostende defence. Oostende have seen an embarrassing 18 goals go past their goalkeeper during the period covering their last 6 games. That sort of pattern might not follow through into this match, of course.

Taking a look at their past results, Oostende:

• haven't been beaten in the league by Cercle Brugge in their last 11 matches. A decent run, indeed.
• haven’t won at home in the past 2 league matches.

Cercle Brugge

WLDLLD

In their previous fixture, Cercle Brugge drew 1-1 in the First Division A match with Union Saint-Gilloise.

In that match, Cercle Brugge managed 35% possession and 6 attempts at goal with 1 on target. The only player to score for Cercle Brugge was Thibo Somers (68'). Union Saint-Gilloise got 15 shots at goal with 7 on target. Gustaf Nilsson (82') scored for Union Saint-Gilloise.

The numbers tell their own story, and Cercle Brugge have been scored against in 5 of their last 6 games, with opponents netting 7 goals in total. In defence, Cercle Brugge have some weaknesses to address.

A look at their previous results shows us that Cercle Brugge:

• have not beaten Oostende in away games against them for the last 6 league games. They'll be keen to stop this run.
• have not won away from home in their last 2 league matches.

🤜🤛 Head to head

Looking at their most recent head-to-head meetings going back to 12/12/2020 tells us that Oostende have won 3 of them & Cercle Brugge 1, with the tally of drawn results being 2.

A sum of 15 goals were scored between them throughout the course of those matches, with 8 for De Kustboys and 7 netted by Groen en Zwart. The average goals per game has been 2.5.

The last league meeting featuring the two was First Division A match day 9 on 17/09/2022 when the final score was Cercle Brugge 2-2 Oostende.

That time, Cercle Brugge had 46% possession and 18 attempts on goal with 6 of them on target. The goalscorers were Kévin Denkey (38') and Ayase Ueda (44').

Oostende got 16 attempts at goal with 7 of them on target. Thierry Ambrose (76', 82') was the scorer.

The referee was Jonathan Lardot.

🗞️ Team News: Oostende

Sieben Dewaele (Muscle Injury), Cameron McGeehan (Ankle Injury), Fraser Hornby (Shoulder Injury) and Maxime D'Arpino (Meniscal Injury) won’t be available for Oostende gaffer Dominik Thalhammer.

🗞️ Team News: Cercle Brugge

Cercle Brugge boss Miron Muslic has multiple availability issues to deal with. David Sousa (Torn Meniscus), Edgaras Utkus (Cruciate Ligament Rupture) and Hannes Van Der Bruggen (Muscle partial avulsion) are names that won’t be on the team sheet.

🔮 Prediction

We’re inclined to think that Cercle Brugge and Oostende are both capable of scoring here.

A draw looks like a realistic possibility, but we’ll see what happens. We’re therefore anticipating a very even match with a 1-1 score when the full-time whistle blows.

Our expert partners are tipping under 3.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Andre Moura, 01:49 17/01/2023