Preview: Two sides heading in very different directions
The Planet Group Arena will host an intriguing clash on 28 January as Jong Gent welcome table-toppers SK Beveren in Round 22 of the Challenger Pro League. On paper this is a classic form-versus-fortress story: Jong Gent sit midtable in eighth, grinding out 30 points through 20 matches, while SK Beveren sit majestically on top with 54 points and a remarkable league record. The standings alone tell you that the visitors arrive with confidence; 17 wins and three draws across their campaign make them the benchmark side in this division.
Jong Gent have shown resilience at times, stringing together meaningful wins recently and collecting six wins, one draw and three defeats in their last ten outings according to the latest form report. Their recent narrow victory over Royal Francs Borains, a 1-0 result that featured Mohamed Soumah as the standout performer, is evidence that Gent can grind out results at home. Yet goals have not been spectacular for the hosts this season — 27 recorded strikes and a near-even goals conceded tally — which suggests they will rely on organisation and quick transitions to unsettle Beveren.
SK Beveren’s strengths and what they bring to Gent
There is a clear statistical edge for the visitors. SK Beveren boast the division’s most potent attacking numbers, a healthy goals column with 41 strikes and a strong shots profile (326 total shots and 110 on target). They also present defensive solidity, having conceded just 14 goals overall — a combination that explains their unbeaten championship-style run in the standings. Recent results show consistency too; their tight 1-0 win over Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring saw Christian Brüls earning plaudits, another example of their ability to do the small things right and close out matches.
Tactically this promises to be a test of Beveren’s offensive pressure versus Jong Gent’s discipline at home. The h2h so far hasn’t favoured the hosts either: their previous meeting in August finished 3-0 in Beveren’s favour, a reminder of the visitors’ ability to turn dominance into clear results.
What the numbers say about goals and match flow
Goal markets deserve respect here. Beveren’s matches lean toward higher scoring outcomes — 60% of their fixtures have gone over 2.5 — while Jong Gent sit around the 50% mark for over 2.5, and both sides register solid shots-per-game figures. Corners and attacking pressure favour Beveren as well, which increases their chance of scoring first and forcing the game into open territory.
If you want to sharpen your market selection, a deep read of wider advice can help: check out Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets. And for context on different ways bookmakers frame matches, a primer on handicap markets is useful: What does it mean the handicap market in sports betting?
Betting suggestion
The clearest single-market value here is the 1X2 on SK Beveren to win. Bookmaker odds favour the visitors around 1.62 and those odds reflect a side that combines attacking firepower with defensive discipline and unbeaten consistency in the table. A straight away win on SK Beveren is the recommended pick, with the caveat to consider bankroll management advice before staking.
