Royal Antwerp vs KV Oostende Prediction 29.02.2024

• Competition: Croky Cup &— Semi-Finals 2nd Leg
• Date: Thursday, 29th, February 2024
• Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20.45 CET
• Venue: Bosuilstadion (Antwerp)

Royal Antwerp, aiming for a consecutive appearance in the Belgian Cup final, is set to face the challenge of second-tier team KV Oostende in the return match at their Bosuilstadion on Thursday.

Royal Antwerp vs KV Oostende Betting Tips: AH1 (-1.5)

Although Royal Antwerp demonstrated superiority on the field earlier this month, they were not able to convert this into a win, ending with a 1-1 draw against the second-tier team at Diaz Arena. The victor in this rematch will compete for the trophy against either Royale Union SG or Club Brugge, both of whom are currently leading the pack.

After a draw in the Crocky Cup, the form of the Belgian champions has been inconsistent at home. They secured a decisive 4-0 win against RWDW but then faced challenging results, suffering a close 0-1 defeat to Mechelen and managing to scrape a last-minute point in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Gent in their most recent match.

Despite their recent home loss leaving a bitter taste, The Great Old remains optimistic, viewing this setback as a temporary blip in their generally strong home record. Out of the last 10 matches, they have emerged victorious seven times, including a notable triumph in the last-16 round of the Belgian Cup where they decisively defeated Charleroi with a 5-2 scoreline.

Even though they didn’t capitalize on opportunities to take the lead in the first-leg clash, Coach Mark van Bommel’s team can be confident about securing their place in the Crocky Cup final in a straightforward manner. This is because they have consistently outperformed KV Oostende by a margin of at least two goals in four of their last five head-to-head matches on their home ground.

De Kustboys were hoping to boost their confidence ahead of the critical second-leg cup clash at the Bosuilstadion. However, they stumbled over the weekend, enduring a humiliating 1-4 loss to Club Brugge’s young team. This defeat has put them in a precarious position, just three points above the relegation zone.

Granted, KV Oostende has been on a stellar run of form on their travels in recent months, going undefeated in ten straight road matches across all competitions (W6, D4), but it’s truly hard to envision them holding the Jupiler Pro League title holders in suspense. Considering the vast gulf in class between these sides, coupled with van Bommel fielding a strong lineup, anything other than Antwerp cruising to a smooth victory would be a shock.