Mechelen vs Anderlecht
9 August 1715hrs
Football – Belgium – First Division A
Pick Mechelen double chance
Bookmaker 888Sport
Odds: 23/25 odds taken 2000 GMT, Saturday 8 August
Now in his second season in charge, Vincent Kompany will be looking for a much better showing from his Anderlecht team as they aim to take all three points back from their visit to Mechelen.
Table of Contents
Mechelen Preview – Can Mechelen build on a really positive 2019/20 campaign by defeating Anderlecht?
Mechlen have been surrounded with controversy for the past few seasons but there was no escaping their success last season as they finished sixth following their return to the Belgian top-flight. Relegated in 2018 before winning promotion the following season, Mechelen have been plagued with allegations around financial mismanagement. That was not on the minds of the players or head coach Wouter Vrancken. This will be Vrancken’s third season in charge. Having won the second division before their excellent return campaign, expectation around him and his team is rising.
Mechlen finished the previous campaign very strongly with four games unbeaten, winning three of them.
Key to Mechelen’s placing last season was the results they picked up on the road. A record of seven wins in 14 away games was the second highest in the league behind only Club Brugge. They may have lost six but as we all know, the ability to pick up a few extra wins in place of draws is significant come the end of a season. Mechelen actually won more games away from home than they did at their own stadium.
The veteran Igor de Camargo, now 37, was in good form last season scoring 10 goals in the league. Despite his advancing years there’s no doubt he still has quality and something to offer.
Anderlecht Preview – Will a youthful Anderlecht team be better prepared this time around?
It was heralded as the perfect homecoming when Vincent Kompany took charge as player/manager last season but it turned into something of a nightmare very quickly. The new-look Anderlecht were so poor that the club had major personnel changes off the field and brought in the experienced Franky Vercauteren to help Kompany in his emerging years. It worked to some degree as Anderlecht progressed from a terrible start but an eighth place finish is never going to be good enough for this club.
Five wins in their last seven league games does give them something to build on, however.
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Finances has dictated transfer business this summer. The most notable being the sale of Kemar Roofe to Rangers earlier this week. Roofe never contributed a huge amount in his only season at the club so it’s likely going to be a departure that Anderlecht can cope with despite being a high-profile signing.
The impressive Michel Vlap is still at the club for the time being and he was a real bright spot in an otherwise troubling season. The Dutch midfielder topped the club’s scoring charts with 11 goals.
Mechelen vs Anderlecht Betting Advice
Although Anderlecht did pick up dramatically in the last few weeks of the previous campaign they were still undone against Mechelen when the teams met in the middle of February. It’s not a ground they enjoy visiting in general. They have won only one of their previous six here and it would already put the spotlight on Kompany and Co. if they extend that poor run by another match tomorow.
For Mechelen, this is something of a free-hit as despite being at home they are not fancied to get the better of their visitors.
Key Facts – Mechelen vs Anderlecht Betting Tip
- Mechelen were one of the surprise packages of last season, eventually finishing sixth
- It was extreme disappointing for Kompany in his first season in charge with many off the field issues to contend with
- Anderlecht have won only once in their last six visits to face Mechelen
Due to that poor record for Anderlecht in this fixture and their struggles throughout last season I am not keen on backing them at odds on. Instead, I’m happy to give Mechelen a chance to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. Back them on the double chance market meaning a home win or draw would see a return.
The best betting odds for Mechelen vs Anderlecht
Mechelen to win 16/5: Betfair
Draw: 13/5 at Betfair
Anderlecht to win: 10/11 at Betfair
