Zulte Waregem vs. Royal Antwerp Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 27 September 2025

This First Division A clash on 27 September 2025 at 15:00 sees Zulte Waregem host Royal Antwerp at the Elindus Arena. Both teams are mid-table with 10 points each and an identical record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses.

Zulte Waregem enters the match with momentum from two consecutive wins, thanks to stellar performances by their top scorer Jeppe Erenbjerg. Expect a 4-3-3 formation, optimized for their attacking threats.

Royal Antwerp, despite rocky recent form, has resilience, evidenced by their knack for scoring late goals, notably in the intervals 76-90 and 31-45. Key player Vincent Janssen, with two goals, will look to lead the attack.

Match facts highlight that both teams often find the net, suggesting a high chance for both to score. Given Royal Antwerp’s away form and Zulte Waregem’s recent rise, a tight contest is anticipated. Recommended bet: both teams to score with odds suggesting a strong likelihood. This will be a critical game influencing mid-table jostling early in the season.

Zulte Waregem vs Royal Antwerp Prediction & Betting Tip

Why this prediction is solid:

• High Scoring Tendency: Statistics reveal that Zulte Waregem has seen both teams score in 63% of their games, while Royal Antwerp’s rate is even higher at 75%.
• Recent Form: Zulte Waregem’s resurgence with back-to-back victories indicates a high likelihood of them scoring. Meanwhile, Royal Antwerp remains a scoring threat despite their inconsistent form.
• Head-to-Head History: Previous encounters between these teams often feature goals from both sides, reinforcing the expectation of an open, competitive match.

With a consistent pattern of scoring and conceding from both sides, betting on both teams to score at odds of 1.65 is a well-supported choice.

Zulte Waregem vs Royal Antwerp Odds

Here’s a look at the current betting odds for the match between Zulte Waregem and Royal Antwerp:

These odds indicate a very tight match with no clear favorite, underlining the balanced nature of this matchup. With both teams having identical points (10) and similar standings, bookies have given marginally better odds to Royal Antwerp. Odds for Zulte Waregem to win slightly lag behind, making the draw an intriguing option at 3.34.

Such closely matched odds highlight the unpredictable yet thrilling nature of this contest. Given the balanced strengths and form of both teams, this match will be one to watch, with any outcome possible.

Zulte Waregem Team Analysis

Zulte Waregem Recent Performance

Zulte Waregem’s recent outings have been quite a roller-coaster ride, capturing a form of LLLWW in their last five matches. Their journey kicked off with a series of losses:

• Club Brugge (0-1)
• St. Truiden (0-2)
• Genk (2-3).

However, they’ve managed to bounce back impressively:

• A solid 2-0 win against OH Leuven
• An away victory over Sporting Charleroi (2-1).

Zulte Waregem has averaged 1.20 goals per match in their last five fixtures while securing just one clean sheet. Under the stewardship of Sven Vandenbroeck, they have shown resilience and are looking to capitalize on their recent form to climb further up the standings.

Consistency remains key, and with top scorer Jeppe Erenbjerg finding the net thrice this season, the team looks poised for a strong showing.

Zulte Waregem Key Players

For Zulte Waregem, top scorer Jeppe Erenbjerg stands out with 3 goals this season, making him a pivotal attacking force to watch. His ability to find pockets of space and finish clinically will be essential against Royal Antwerp’s defence.

In addition to Erenbjerg, Anosike Ementa, who will likely start upfront, is another crucial player. Ementa’s physical presence and work ethic make him a tough challenge for defenders.

The midfield trio of Claes, Nnadi, and Gavriel will aim to control the game’s tempo and supply the forwards with quality passes.

The expected lineup for Zulte Waregem:

• Goalkeeper: Brent Gabriel
• Defenders: Wilguens Paugain, Anton Tanghe, Jakob Kiilerich, Yannick Cappelle
• Midfielders: Stavros Gavriel, Thomas Claes, Tochukwu Nnadi, Joseph Opoku
• Forwards: Jeppe Erenbjerg, Anosike Ementa

Key individual battles include Erenbjerg versus Antwerp’s central defence, and Claes against Antwerp’s defensive midfield, shaping up to be a critical part of the match.

Zulte Waregem Suspensions & Injuries

Zulte Waregem faces a couple of potential setbacks with injuries heading into this match. Both Emeka Anachunam and Laurent Lemoine have unknown injuries, making their return doubtful for this game against Royal Antwerp.

• Emeka Anachunam: Unknown injury (Potential return doubtful)
• Laurent Lemoine: Unknown injury (Potential return doubtful)

The absence of these two players may impact Sven Vandenbroeck’s tactics, particularly in defensive solidity and squad depth. While these injuries aren’t significant enough to derail their recent form completely, they could necessitate some strategic adjustments, likely relying on the depth of their bench to maintain their momentum.

Fortunately, with no suspensions, Zulte Waregem will otherwise field a strong squad and should still be confident in their ability to achieve a positive result. Consistent performances from key players will be vital to overcome these challenges.

Zulte Waregem Tactics and Formation

Zulte Waregem’s tactical approach under Sven Vandenbroeck has shown flexibility, but their preferred formation is generally a 4-2-3-1, aiming to balance between attack and defensive solidity.

Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Jeppe Erenbjerg, top scorer with 3 goals.
• Midfield Duo: Thomas Claes and Tochukwu Nnadi, crucial for ball distribution and control.
• Defensive Setup: The back four are anchored by Kiilerich and Tanghe, with Paugain and Cappelle operating as full-backs.
• Notable Strategy: Zulte Waregem have scored most of their goals during the 76-90 and 61-75-minute intervals, indicating a strong finish to their halves.

Their average of 1.20 goals per match in the last 5 games, combined with a solitary clean sheet, reflects a team that can find the back of the net but needs to tighten up at the back. Expect Vandenbroeck to leverage their strong late-game performances and seek to capitalize on any lapses by Royal Antwerp.

Royal Antwerp Team Analysis

Royal Antwerp Recent Performance

Royal Antwerp have had a mixed bag of results recently, compiling a form of DWLLD from their last five matches. Their recent games include:

• Sporting Charleroi (1-1, Draw)
• KV Mechelen (2-1, Win)
• Westerlo (0-2, Loss)
• Gent (1-2, Loss)
• Anderlecht (0-0, Draw)

With just one win, two draws, and two losses, their recent form indicates inconsistency. They’ve recorded one clean sheet and averaged 0.80 goals per game in these fixtures, which is a concern. Their inability to score heavily has been a limiting factor.

Under Stef Wils, the team will need to strengthen their attacking output and maintain defensive solidity to turn their form around. Key player Vincent Janssen, who has netted twice this season, will be pivotal in enhancing their goal-scoring record. As they look to climb up the standings, consistency will be critical.

Royal Antwerp Key Players

For Royal Antwerp, Vincent Janssen is the standout player with 2 goals this season. His role will be pivotal as the main attacking threat. Janssen’s ability to find space and his clinical finishing will be vital for Antwerp to secure a positive result.

Another key player is Dennis Praet, who will likely anchor the midfield. Praet’s experience and vision can dictate the tempo and spread play effectively. Marwan Al-Sahafi, lining up as a forward, also has the potential to make significant contributions.

Expected lineup for Royal Antwerp:

• Goalkeeper: Yannick Thoelen
• Defenders: Yuto Tsunashima, Rosen Bozhinov, Zeno Van Den Bosch
• Midfielders: Dennis Praet, Isaac Babadi, Mahamadou Diawara, Daam Foulon
• Forwards: Vincent Janssen, Thibo Somers, Marwan Al-Sahafi

Key individual battles include Janssen facing Zulte Waregem’s central defenders and Praet’s battle in the midfield with Claes and Nnadi. These matchups will heavily influence the game’s outcome.

Royal Antwerp Suspensions & Injuries

Royal Antwerp is contending with several injury concerns ahead of their clash with Zulte Waregem. Key players potentially missing out include:

• Anthony Valencia: Knee injury (Potential return doubtful)
• Bjorn Engels: Hamstring injury (Potential return doubtful)
• Geoffry Hairemans: Cruciate ligament injury (Potential return early April 2026)
• Gyrano Kerk: Thigh injury (Potential return mid October 2025)

The absence of these players, especially Hairemans, who is sidelined for an extended period, could impact Stef Wils’ tactical setup and squad rotation. Valencia and Engels’ uncertain return leaves vulnerabilities in their defense, necessitating backups to step up.

Although no suspensions impact their lineup, Royal Antwerp will need to display resilience and adapt to these injury-made gaps to stay competitive in this crucial fixture.

Royal Antwerp Tactics and Formation

Royal Antwerp, under coach Stef Wils, usually deploy a 3-5-2 formation, aiming to blend defensive solidity with attacking flexibility.

Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-5-2
• Key Forward: Vincent Janssen, with 2 goals this season as their main attacking force.
• Midfield Engine: Dennis Praet, instrumental in both defensive transitions and attacking build-ups.
• Defensive Setup: A back three of Tsunashima, Bozhinov, and Van Den Bosch aims to provide a robust defensive line.
• Notable Strategy: Royal Antwerp has shown a tendency to score most of their goals in the latter stages of each half (31-45 and 76-90 minutes).

Despite their formation allowing defensive depth, they have managed just one clean sheet in the last five matches. Their average of 0.80 goals per match shows a dire need for offensive improvement, making their combination of a solid backline and late offensive surges critical against Zulte Waregem’s form.

Zulte Waregem vs Royal Antwerp Head-to-Head Statistics

Examining the last five meetings between Zulte Waregem and Royal Antwerp reveals a competitive history. Royal Antwerp has had the upper hand, winning four out of the last five encounters:

• 31 March 2023: Zulte Waregem 0 – 2 Royal Antwerp
• 31 July 2022: Royal Antwerp 1 – 0 Zulte Waregem
• 19 March 2022: Royal Antwerp 1 – 0 Zulte Waregem
• 16 October 2021: Zulte Waregem 2 – 1 Royal Antwerp
• 16 December 2020: Royal Antwerp 0 – 1 Zulte Waregem

In these encounters, matches have generally been tight, with less than 2.5 goals scored in 75% of them, highlighting a defensive mindset.

Zulte Waregem has managed to score in most of their matches this season, which, combined with Royal Antwerp’s tendency to score late goals, points to another hard-fought battle. Considering recent forms and past results, fans can expect a close, closely contested match.

Odds accurate as of 25.09.2025 15:05, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.