Preview: Planet Group Arena set for a tactical duel
Gent return to the Planet Group Arena on 18/01/2026 bruised but determined after a tight Belgian Cup quarterfinal loss to Anderlecht just three days earlier. The home side sit eighth in the Pro League table with 26 points from 20 matches, a campaign marked by inconsistency and a defence that has been resilient at home but leakier on the road. Anderlecht arrive in Gent riding much steadier form — fourth place, 35 points and a sequence across all competitions that shows more wins than losses. The cup knockout result — a 1-0 victory for Anderlecht — gives the visitors both confidence and a psychological edge heading into round 21.
Form, stats and what they tell us
Gent’s season is a study in contrasts: respectable attacking numbers overall but a tougher time converting chances consistently. At home Gent have scored 17 goals and conceded just 10, highlighting a solid defensive record on familiar turf. Anderlecht, meanwhile, have produced 28 goals overall and conceded 22, combining offensive threat with defensive stability that has generated eight clean sheets this term. Anderlecht also top Gent on attacking volume — 301 total shots and an average of 101.95 attacks versus Gent’s 268 shots and 98.25 attacks — and they create more dangerous chances per game. Corners and set-piece pressure tilt slightly in Anderlecht’s favour too, which compounds the visitors’ ability to threaten from multiple angles.
Both teams have shown different tendencies on goals: Gent matches have gone over 2.5 goals slightly more often than Anderlecht’s, but recent encounters between these sides — capped by the recent 1-0 cup scoreline — suggest tight margins and low-scoring possibilities. Bookmakers price Anderlecht as the slight favourite for this league clash (Away 2.20), with Gent at 3.20 and the draw at 3.35. Those odds reflect Anderlecht’s superior form and the momentum they gained in the Cup.
Match-up dynamics and narrative
Gent will lean on home defensive solidity and the crowd at Planet Group Arena to frustrate Anderlecht and perhaps nick something on transition. Anderlecht will arrive organized, confident from the cup win, and with the attacking numbers to force openings. Expect a structured game where marginal advantages — set pieces, turnovers and clinical finishing — decide the outcome rather than wild end-to-end thrills.
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Betting suggestion
Given Anderlecht’s recent cup victory over Gent, superior attacking volume, better recent league form and the bookmakers’ pricing, the strongest single-market pick from the available options is a 1X2 wager backing Anderlecht to win (Away) at roughly 2.20. The value here is the combination of form edge and psychological momentum — a clear, data-backed selection for punters favouring outright outcomes.
