Mechelen vs Antwerp prediction and betting tips on December 13, 2024
Game Prediction
On December 13, 2024, the 18th round of the Belgian Jupiler League will see Mechelen face Antwerp. Both teams are battling for third place and will try to get the most out of their direct encounter.
Match Prediction: Mechelen vs Antwerp
Mechelen recently returned to Belgium’s top division and has been performing well in the cup. In the previous season, they finished mid-table in 8th place. Antwerp, on the other hand, stunned the league by winning the "Golden Double" in 2023, claiming the Super Cup and playing in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. However, they couldn’t maintain their top form in the national league and slipped to 6th place.
Both teams have been improving recently. Jonas De Roeck's side wins every other match, but while they aren’t in the race for the top spot, they are firmly in the fight for a spot in the top three. However, their recent form has been inconsistent. In the cup, they were eliminated by Kortrijk on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and in the league, they lost 1-3 to Charleroi at home. Antwerp also wins regularly but loses almost as often. Their cup journey ended with a penalty defeat to Beerschot, and they lost to Club Brugge in the most recent league round.
Mechelen's impressive league position is supported by their strong attacking play—they score an average of two goals per match. However, they also concede nearly 1.4 goals per match. Antwerp is more pragmatic, but their statistics are also solid, with an average of 1.75 goals scored and only 0.88 goals conceded per match.
Match Facts and Trends:
- Mechelen has lost four of their last five matches, including cup games.
- Antwerp has won one of their last six matches.
- The most common scoreline between these clubs is 1-0 in favor of Antwerp (6 times).
- Mechelen scores 36% of their goals between the 76th and 90th minute.
- Antwerp scores 21% of their goals between the 61st and 75th minute.
- Mechelen has scored at least once in their last 12 matches.
- Mechelen wins the first half in 34% of their matches, while Antwerp wins the first half in 27% of their matches.
Possible Lineups:
Mechelen: De Wolf – Marsa, Tuba, Ramakers – Fulon, Schoofs, Ouattara, Pfukke – Storm, Lauberbach, Mrabti
Antwerp: Lammens – Costa, Van den Bosch, Alderweireld, Bata – Prat, Odoi, Ondrejka, Shery, Kerk – Janssen
Head-to-Head (H2H):
In 2024, both official encounters went in favor of Mechelen, with two 1-0 victories on the road.
Prediction: Mechelen vs Antwerp
The match promises to be closely contested. Given the defensive issues on both sides, we expect it to be far from boring—bet on a "total over 2.5 goals" (odds: 1.69).
Place your bets and keep track of your team’s performance in the Jupiler League standings as the match approaches.