Antwerp vs Anderlecht Prediction: A tough contest expected

The upcoming round 18 Jupiler Pro League action between Antwerp and Anderlecht will take place at Bosuilstadion. Now, let's delve into the match previews and proceed to make a prediction.

Antwerp fans will be hoping for a repeat of their recent success, which was a thrilling 3-2 victory against Barcelona in the Champions League. In that match, despite having 31% possession, Antwerp managed 11 attempts on goal, with 5 on target. The scorers for Antwerp were Arthur Vermeeren (2'), Vincent Janssen (56'), and George Ilenikhena (92'). Barcelona had 11 attempts on goal, with 3 on target, and Ferrán Torres (35') and Marc Guiu (91') found the net.

However, there is a concern for Antwerp regarding their defensive record in recent times. They have conceded in 5 of their last 6 games, allowing a total of 6 goals. Additionally, looking at their past form reveals that Antwerp hasn't beaten Anderlecht in their previous 4 league matches but remains undefeated in their last 10 home league matches.

In their recent First Division A match, Anderlecht played to a 2-2 draw against Standard Liège. Anderlecht had 57% possession and attempted 12 shots on goal, with 4 on target. Anders Dreyer (21', 77') was the sole scorer for Anderlecht. Standard Liège, on the other side, had 13 shots at goal, with 4 on target, and Hayao Kawabe (45') and Wilfried Kanga (55') found the net.

Over their last six outings, Anderlecht has been prolific in scoring, accumulating a total of 13 goals and maintaining a record of scoring in each of those matches. However, their defense has seen 5 goals conceded during this period.

Looking ahead to their upcoming clash, Anderlecht hasn't secured a victory in their last 2 away league matches against Antwerp. Nonetheless, they enter this contest unbeaten in their last 3 league matches away from home.

Both teams have demonstrated commendable performances, and there are high expectations for them. However, considering the scenario where neither team can afford to drop points, a draw seems like the ideal choice, with an emphasis on a defensive-oriented approach.