RAAL La Louvière vs Cercle Brugge Prediction

Right then, let's have a proper look at this basement battle in the Belgian Pro League. RAAL La Louvière host Cercle Brugge in what's basically a six-pointer at the wrong end of the table. Both sides are scrapping for points, but one of these teams is actually playing some decent football lately.

RAAL have been proper solid in their last 10 games - 5 wins, 4 draws, and just the one loss. That's 1.90 points per game, which is more like European form than relegation form. They've been grinding out results like a proper lower-league side should. Look at their recent run: beat Heist 2-1 away, nicked a 1-1 draw at Genk, kept clean sheets against Westerlo and Dender. Only loss in that spell was 1-0 to Gent, and there's no shame in that. Defensively, they're tight as a drum - only 6 goals conceded in 10 games with 4 clean sheets.

Cercle, on the other hand, are all over the shop. Just 1 win in their last 10 games, and that was way back in August (4-1 vs Westerlo). They've become draw specialists lately - 1-1 with Zulte Waregem, 2-2 with Genk, 1-1 at Antwerp. But they got hammered 4-2 by Gent at home not long ago, which tells you their defence can go missing. Away from home? Shocking stuff - 0.50 goals scored per away game, 1.50 conceded. They've managed just 1 goal in their last 2 away trips combined.

The stats paint a clear picture here. RAAL don't have many shots (7.4 per game) but they make them count. Cercle have more shots (13.9) but their accuracy is poor at 28.9%. RAAL are happy without the ball (30% possession), Cercle like to have it more (49.1%) but don't do much with it.

This has all the makings of a tight, scrappy affair. RAAL at home don't score many (0.67 per game) but barely concede (0.33). Cercle away can't buy a goal. The goal expectancy numbers back this up - we're looking at probably 1-0 or 1-1 max here.

Given both teams' positions, they'll be terrified of losing this one. RAAL will sit tight and look to nick something, Cercle will struggle to break them down. I'm expecting a proper war of attrition, not a goal fest.