- Team form: K. Sint-Truidense are the in-form side (W3, D0, L2) and have a slight psychological edge. Cercle Brugge KSV are in indifferent form (D2, L3) and without a win in five. Cercle score 2.00 goals per game at home and concede 1.25, so expect goals in this one. K. Sint-Truidense score 2.00 goals and concede 1.12 per away game on average, which means they should be efficient in Belgium.
No love lost between Canaries and Trucians
Market and context
K. Sint-Truidense have failed to win either of their last two games at Cercle Brugge KSV, which has kept the hosts in the conversation for Friday's Pro League 2026-2027 clash at Jan Breydel Stadion, but it is STVV who come into this as slight favorites at 2.65, with Cercle 2.4 and the draw 3.55, so the market is expecting a close game. A close affair between these two is expected given the nature of the two coaches and their playing styles.
Coaches and recent form
Lars Friis was appointed to take charge of Cercle Brugge KSV on 23 March 2026, since when the Canaries have won four, drawn three and lost three of their ten in all competitions.
Frederic De Meyer was appointed on 1 July 2026 to take over the reins of K. Sint-Truidense and he has maintained the high-intensity pressing structure of his predecessor, one that utilises a two-pivot structure and fast central progression to create good numbers in the final third.
- The two most recent results have been a 3-2 away loss at FC Zwolle and a 2-2 away draw with AS Monaco, so it has been a leaky but lively spell for the home team.
- STVV's last three results have been a 1-0 away win at Liege FC, followed by successive defeats away at Helmond Sport and AEK Athens, so their momentum has taken a knock.
Cercle can hurt STVV on the counter
Both teams to Score is priced at 1.62 for this contest while Over 2.5 goals is 1.8, so we are leaning towards the goal options here as neither side has been particularly strong at the back recently. There will be plenty of transitions in this game as STVV will look to press Cercle high up the pitch and the hosts are capable of punishing any over-committing visitors if they can get players through the first press.
Cercle's compact overloading and quick outlet passes can be deadly if they catch their opponents out and we can see Friis' side being tested by STVV's two-pivot system on the break. De Meyer's side will come to dominate the possession and press for long periods, which should force a fast-paced, physical battle from the home side.
K. Sint-Truidense have five wins and three defeats from eight away in this competition (W5, D0, L3), so they can travel well but they are not airtight. In the current competition, Cercle Brugge KSV have two wins, one draw and one defeat from four at home, so they can compete on their own patch.
STVV are the form team and just have the edge in our opinion, so we will go with a double chance on the visitors.
