Standard Liege vs Cercle Brugge
8 August 1800hrs
Football – Belgium – First Division A
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker 888Sport
Odds: 11/10 odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 7 August
The Belgian season kicks off this weekend with Standard Liege hoping to start the new campaign with a win at home to Cercle Brugge on Saturday.
Table of Contents
- 1 Standard Liege Preview – Can Liege get the reign of Philippe Montanier off to a winning start?
- 2 Cercle Brugge Preview – Are Cercle capable of getting their first league win over Standard in 10 years?
- 3 Standard Liege vs Cercle Brugge Betting Advice
- 4 The best betting odds for Standard Liege vs Cercle Brugge
Standard Liege Preview – Can Liege get the reign of Philippe Montanier off to a winning start?
Failure to qualify for Europe via their league position last season means there has been a coaching change at Standard Liege with Philippe Montanier taking over from Michel Preud’homme who ends a spell of two years in charge. It’s hard to argue that Standard were slightly unfortunate having narrowly missed out qualifying from their Europa League group by a point and in a position where they could reach the top four in the league before the season had to be called.
It does give hope to Montanier that there is something to work with here and build a team capable of finishing in the top four this time around. Courtesy of Antwerp’s cup win last weekend they will also be playing in this season’s Europa League.
Standard lost just two of their 15 home games in the league last season and also had the second best defensive record at home conceding just nine goals. Whilst Montanier tends to prefer a more defensive style of play he will look to improve their attacking options.
Liege scored 11 and 12 goals less than second and first respectively. If they are hoping to challenge for Europe then it would be an obvious area where they can find improvement.
Cercle Brugge Preview – Are Cercle capable of getting their first league win over Standard in 10 years?
Cercle Brugge have been preparing for a third straight year in the Belgian top-flight having finished 14th. They had a very strong end to the campaign by winning four of their last five to ensure they finished ahead of Waasland-Beveren who lost their last eight in the league. Considering the points difference was just three between those clubs, it highlights how significant those final few games were.
Although they survived, Cercle have also changed managers and that was mainly due to the fact they only seven of their 29 league games. Paul Clement – formerly of Swansea and Derby, and more recently Reading, was the surprise candidate chose to take over.
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Clement will undoubtedly have a big job on his hands, not least getting to know a squad he would have little knowledge of and a league he has no experience in as a head coach. The first priority, as always for Cercle, will be to survive and if they can, avoid a prolonged relegation battle like they were involved in last season.
Where the new manager will look to improve things is Cercle’s form away from home. They managed just two victories in the league last season, taking a mere seven points from a possible 45 on the road.
Standard Liege vs Cercle Brugge Betting Advice
If Standard Liege could have hand picked a game to begin the new season then this would probably be high up on their list. Their record over Cercle Brugge is very good with 10 wins in their last 12 meetings. You have to go back all the way to 2010 for the last time Cercle defeated Standard Liege in the First Division A.
Key Facts – Standard Liege vs Cercle Brugge Betting Tip
- Standard Liege narrowly missed out on European football last season following a fifth placed finish
- Cercle conceded the second most goals in the top division last season, shipping 59 in 30 games
- This fixture has been kind to Standard who have not lost in the league to Cercle in 13 games
The odds on a home win are prohibitive and I prefer to back a low-scoring match. Eight of Standard Liege’s last 11 home games went under 2.5 goals, they don’t concede many at home and with Cercle scoring 11 in 15 away games last season, goals could be at a premium here.
Five of the last seven meetings between the two have went under 2.5 goals.
