Mechelen vs Antwerp Predictions

• Mechelen had the Belgian top flight’s fifth best attacking record last season (scoring 57 goals), but its joint-fourth worst defence (conceding 61).
• Six of the last seven head-to-head meetings between the teams have contained over 2.5 goals.
• The hosts ended last season with a five-match winless run, losing four games in that spell.

Opening-day entertainment expected

Sunday’s Belgian First Division A opener between Mechelen and Antwerp pits two of last season’s play-off contenders against one another, with both under new management following the exits of Wouter Vrancken and Brian Priske. Mark van Bommel’s visitors begin the campaign as third favourites for the title, but will have to navigate a difficult first test.

Indeed, Mechelen should play their part in an end-to-end game after ending last season with the league’s fifth best attacking record and its joint-fourth worst defensive record. The hosts, however, ended last campaign with a five-match winless run, losing four of those contests, and have only tasted victory twice since February, conceding in all but two of their last 14 contests.

Antwerp finished fourth last term, but that was not enough to stop Priske being replaced by Van Bommel, who is expected to make contenders of the Reds. Antwerp hammered Mechelen 4-0 in a friendly earlier this month, and after adding the likes of Vincent Janssen and Toby Alderweireld, should enjoy a strong campaign.

Van Bommel can start with a lively win

Given Antwerp’s quality and Mechelen’s tendency to become involved in end-to-end affairs, backing the visitors to win a contest featuring over 2.5 goals looks prudent, with six of the team’s last seven meetings featuring a minimum of three strikes.

Meanwhile, a hard-fought 2-1 away win looks a solid correct score prediction.

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