Leuven Seeks Rebound as Standard Liège Faces Debut Under New Coach
As the Belgian Pro League season progresses, OH Leuven will host Standard Liège. Leuven aims to bounce back from recent poor form, while the visitors, Standard Liège, will play under the guidance of newly appointed coach Vincent Euvrard. This match is crucial not only for points but also for setting the tone for both teams in the early stages of the season.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This Belgian Pro League fixture between OH Leuven and Standard Liège comes early in the season, with both teams striving to establish their standing in the league. OH Leuven currently sits 13th in the 2025-26 Belgian Pro League table, having had a poor start and urgently needing a win to boost morale and climb out of the lower half of the standings. [3, 27] In contrast, Standard Liège is provisionally in 8th place, showing a slightly better overall performance, but has also faced recent challenges. [12, 27] Notably, Standard Liège has undergone a coaching change prior to this match, with Mircea Rednic departing and Vincent Euvrard taking over as the new head coach. This game will mark Euvrard's debut, and the team's performance could either be galvanized or still be in a transitional phase. [48] For Leuven, playing at home presents a crucial opportunity to reverse their fortunes; for Liège, whether the new coach's influence can bring immediate results will be the primary focus of this match.
Recent Form
OH Leuven has been in poor form recently, recording only 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses in their last five official matches. Their results include a 1-0 away win against FCV Dender [7, 14, 31], a 1-2 home loss to KRC Genk [7, 14, 31], a 1-3 away defeat to Royal Antwerp [7, 14, 31], a heavy 0-5 away loss to Union Saint-Gilloise [7, 14, 31], and a 2-2 home draw against Sporting Charleroi [7, 14, 31]. Overall, Leuven's record stands at 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses, with 5 goals scored and 12 conceded. [3] Standard Liège's recent form shows 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. Their last five match results are: a 2-0 away win against La Louvière [10], a 1-1 home draw against Dender [10], a 2-1 home win over Genk [10], a 0-3 away loss to Union Saint-Gilloise [6, 10], and a 0-3 home defeat against Cercle Brugge [8, 10].
Key Players & Injury News
Key players for OH Leuven include midfielder Siebe Schrijvers [2, 11, 13], goalkeeper Tobe Leysen [2, 11, 15], defender Takahiro Akimoto [2, 11, 15], center-back Ewoud Pletinckx [13, 15], and forward Jovan Mijatović [11, 13]. On the injury front, Leuven will be without Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi due to a muscle tear, while Manuel Osifo and Bryang Kayo are dealing with minor knocks. [44] Mathieu Maertens is also doubtful due to a hamstring injury. [14] For Standard Liège, key players are expected to include forwards Thomas Henry [3, 6] and Dennis Eckert [3, 6], along with Marlon Fossey [3, 5]. Young goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo [3, 5] and midfielder Hakim Sahabo [3, 7] are also vital to the squad. In terms of injuries, Standard Liège will be missing Timothée Nkada [2], David Bates with a knee injury [10, 13], and Henry Lawrence recovering from appendectomy. [4]