Oostende vs Royal Antwerp Prediction 08.02.2024

• Competition: Belgian Cup &— Semi-Finals 1st Leg
• Date: Thursday, 8th, February 2024
• Kickoff: 19:00 UTC / 20.00 CET
• Venue: Diaz Arena (Oostende)

In the Belgian Cup semifinals, second-tier team Oostende will play against Royal Antwerp at the Versluys Arena on Thursday. They aim to use their home advantage to secure a positive outcome in the first leg of the match.

Oostende vs Royal Antwerp Betting Tips: BTTS

Oostende is preparing for a historic mission to win the Belgian Cup trophy for the first time in the club’s history, eager to forget their loss to Zulte Waregem in the final of 2016-17.

Even though De Kustboys are competing in the second division of Belgian football, they’ve proven they are not to be taken lightly. They’ve defeated several premier league teams in their journey to the semifinals, including Eupen, Genk, and RWDW in the Croky Cup.

Jamath Shoffner, who was appointed as the new boss in mid-January, guided his team to a victorious 2-1 league triumph over Koninklijke Lierse over the weekend. This win not only lifted the team from the bottom of the table but also provided a slight one-point edge over the relegation spots.

Despite facing the threat of demotion in the second division, the West Flanders team has shown remarkable strength, largely due to their offensive prowess. They’ve managed to score a commendable 12 goals in just four cup rounds, which has further motivated them to surprise the Belgian champions.

Unlike their Thursday hosts, Royal Antwerp demonstrated an impressive comeback following a surprising 0-1 loss to Eupen, who are second from bottom, in late December. They managed to secure consecutive wins over the struggling St. Liege with a 2-1 victory, and pulled off a 2-1 win against Club Brugge in their most recent match, coming from behind.

Mark van Bomel’s team appears to have little chance of defending their domestic title this term, considering the formidable 18-point gap between them and the current league leaders, Royale Union SG. Nonetheless, the Great Old are determined to at least secure the Belgian Cup trophy, which they currently hold. To achieve this, they must first overcome the unexpected threats in this year’s national competition.

Antwerp’s thrilling and entertaining ascent to the top four in the Crocky Cup has been characterized by high-scoring victories, reflecting their ability to counteract defensive shortcomings with a potent offense. They managed to eliminate KSK Lierse, Charleroi, and OH Leuven through an impressive tally of 12 goals, despite not maintaining a clean sheet throughout the competition.

Dutch tactician Mark van Bommel’s side will be hoping their attack shines again on Thursday, having triumphed over Oostende in three of their last four clashes with an identical scoreline of 3-0. Despite facing a tough situation, the home ground advantage and previous victories against Antwerp’s Jupiler Pro League counterparts could give De Kustboys the courage and confidence to make it difficult for the Belgian champions on their path to the cup final.