- Team form: Westerlo are winless in 5 games, losing 4 times, including a 1-5 defeat at home to Union St.-Gilloise.
- Recent form: Zulte-Waregem are unbeaten in their last 5 games with 3 wins and 2 draws (0-0 at Union St.-Gilloise, 4-0 win over SK Beveren).
- Head-to-head: Westerlo are unbeaten in 2 games against Zulte-Waregem with 1 win and 1 draw (1-0 win away six months ago).
Westerlo are in poor form
Issame Charai's side have been playing a flexible 4-2-3-1 system this season and have been mixing it up to a degree, often pressing high with pace on the break and an intelligent creative player like Cameron Congreve (1 assist in 2 Pro League 2026/2027 games) through the middle.
However, De Kemphanen haven't been getting the results as of yet, arriving at Het Kuipje in Belgium in poor nick with 0 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats in their last 5 matches in all competitions. They've taken a 1-5 thrashing at home from Union St.-Gilloise and a 3-2 defeat at Racing Genk in their two most recent outings and, while Dylan Ourega adds some spark in their 2026/2027 campaign (1 goal in 3 Pro League 2026/2027 appearances), he needs some support in the final third.
Essevee have an edge
Form and standings
The visitors arrive at Het Kuipje in much better form than their hosts with 7 points in their 3 Pro League 2026/2027 matches, putting them 3rd in the standings, while Westerlo are 18th with 0 points after 3 games.
Tactics and key players
Michael Beale has been beginning to shape the side around stability at the back after Essevee's style under the previous regime was more about front-foot pressing and wide combinations, but it's too early to tell if the players are ready to buy into that.
Zulte-Waregem have yet to score away from home in this competition, although they have played one away match in Pro League 2026/2027.
Tobias Hedl has been pulling the strings with 2 assists in 3 Pro League 2026/2027 fixtures while Thomas Claes, a main man on the right, has 3 of their 9 total goals in his last 5.
The final decision
Zulte-Waregem are the form team and their position on the ladder, but Westerlo have the edge in the head-to-head and 3.65 on the draw doesn't seem like a bad play.
- Over 2.5 goals at 1.5 and Both Teams To Score – Yes at 1.42 make this seem like it will be a lively game rather than a cagey affair, which makes some sense given the tactical clash.
- Westerlo's style of transition play should test Essevee's shape and their pressing game will want to punish turnovers high up the field.
- Zulte-Waregem's main finisher is Istvan Atrok, who has 2 goals in 3 Pro League 2026/2027 games and looks the most likely to take advantage of any sloppiness on Sunday.
