Cercle Brugge vs Anderlecht

Cercle Brugge face Anderlecht in the Jupiler Pro League on Saturday 10 October 2026 at Jan Breydelstadion in Brugge, with the home side searching for their first league victory on their own ground this season.

Cercle Brugge sit 17th without a home victory

Cercle Brugge enter Matchweek 8 in 17th place out of 18 teams, having earned three points from seven games with a goal difference of -6. Their home record stands at zero wins, one draw, and two defeats, conceding seven goals while scoring three. Over their last five matches in all competitions, they suffered four defeats, most recently losing 2-3 away at Charleroi on 19 September 2026 after a 1-1 draw at OH Leuven on 12 September 2026 and consecutive home losses to Gent (0-3 on 6 September 2026) and Lommel United (0-1 on 29 August 2026). Over their last five fixtures with chance metrics, Cercle Brugge created 1.19 expected goals per game while allowing 1.51. Steve Ngoura leads their scoring chart with two goals across all competitions.

Anderlecht concede under one expected goal per match

Anderlecht occupy fifth place with 13 points from seven matches, conceding five goals and scoring seven. In league action, they have kept clean sheets in three of their last four fixtures, including a 3-0 win against Zulte Waregem on 19 September 2026, a 1-0 away victory at KV Mechelen on 11 September 2026, and a 0-0 draw against Genk on 6 September 2026. Their only domestic defeat in that sequence came outside league play, falling 1-2 to Lyon in the UEFA Europa League on 16 September 2026. Across their last five matches with chance data, Anderlecht created 1.58 expected goals per match while restricting opponents to 0.92. Away from home in the league, they have one win and two losses from three matches, scoring one and conceding four. M. Winkler shares the fixture's top scoring mark with two goals this season.

Four confirmed absences for each squad

Both clubs enter this meeting missing four players through injury. Cercle Brugge are without Abdoulie Manneh, Charles Herrmann, Joel Ndala, and Omotayo Adaramola. Anderlecht travel without Giulian Biancone, Ilay Camara, Killian Sardella, and Lucas Hey. In recent head-to-head meetings, Cercle Brugge took the last encounter 3-2 away at Anderlecht on 22 March 2026, but Anderlecht won the previous three, including 2-0 and 5-0 visits to Jan Breydelstadion in 2025 and 2024.

Our model expects an Anderlecht win

Our forecasting model expects an Anderlecht win, giving the selection medium confidence. The forecast reflects the gap between Anderlecht's defensive numbers, allowing 0.92 expected goals per game, and Cercle Brugge's 1.51 expected goals conceded. Although Cercle Brugge won the previous encounter 3-2 in March 2026, their record of zero wins from three home league matches this season supports the model's call.