Zulte-Waregem – Club Brugge: preview
We provide predictions for the Zulte-Waregem vs Club Brugge match in the tenth round of the Belgian league 2026/27.
Club Brugge continues to fight for first place – if they beat Zulte-Waregem, they will be the sole leader on the table at least until Sunday.
Key moments
Zulte-Waregem
1. Zulte-Waregem lost four consecutive matches in the Pro League. The current season started very positively: Zulte-Waregem played the first five rounds without losing, earning 11 points out of 15 possible. During that time they beat Genk and did not lose at home against Union (0:0). In the league table the team was in fifth place. However, after that the expected decline occurred. Even before the international break, Zulte-Waregem was surpassed by Charleroi and Anderlecht, and in October the bad streak continued with the home match against Gante. They then broke the losing streak thanks to a successful debut in the Belgian Cup: the team crushed Serend – a second‑division outsider. But there was no enthusiasm, a week later Zulte-Waregem failed to overcome the base club of the Pro League – they lost 0:3 to La Louvière. As a result, they are now in tenth place.
2. Mbaye can return to the team. When the winger received the opportunity and started the match against Gante, he won a straight red card. The two‑match suspension is behind, so Malik is ready to return to the field. It is possible that Michael Bil will support the Senegalese and let him go out again from the first minutes.
It is also possible that midfielder Thomas Klies will appear in the starting lineup – he was recently replaced by Sergio Uika, but the Albanian’s performance did not convince.
3. Zulte-Waregem stopped scoring. During the unbeaten streak at the start of the season, the team averaged two goals per game. Although here, for example, one can remember the goalless trip against Union. Now a drought period arrives – Zulte-Waregem has been silent for four league matches (360 minutes). They recently broke in the cup competition, but the opponent was very modest.
If we consider Club Brugge, the last match in January turned into an intense battle – Zulte-Waregem lost 3:4. Previously they had scored only two goals in eight matches, seven of which ended in defeat. The win over the “black and blue” has not happened since November 2018 – during that time the team lost 11 of 13 matches, including six at home.
Club Brugge
1. Club Brugge has not had problems in seven matches. The last loss occurred on 8 September: Club Brugge lost at home to Aston Villa in the first round of the Champions League (2:3). Since then they have won the four domestic league matches, while also reaching the round of 16 in the Belgian Cup and achieving the maximum in two Champions League matches – the home win against Inter (4:3) was especially impressive, followed by the win over Lens (3:0).
In the Pro League they have accumulated 24 points out of 27 possible. After three wins at the start, Club Brugge lost to Gante, then won five consecutive matches. The team occupies second place in the table, just above the same Gante.
2. Diakona could receive a light opportunity. The Senegalese had been the main winger, but over time he lost competition to the newcomer Yannis Virgili. The Spaniard is still not as productive as expected, and the last match was nothing – Virgili was replaced at halftime after the transfer. The Diakona who came on in the second half seemed more interesting and received a rating above half the squad – although he also had no goals or assists. With this performance, Mamadu earned the game from the first minutes.
3. Club Brugge has good productivity. The team continues to stand out in every match of the season, regardless of the competition. In addition, in the current winning streak, the three‑goal barrier is regularly broken. This was even the case in the UEFA Cup battle against Inter, and Club Brugge was more modest in the Belgian Cup match against second‑division Lokeren‑Temse – here they were limited to one goal.
If we take strictly the Pro League, Club Brugge averages 2.44 goals per 90 minutes – the third indicator after Westerlo (2.67) and Union (3). At the same time, the team does not always play without goals, but in terms of total goals conceded (6) it is better than only Gante (4).
Approximate lineups
4-2-3-14-2-3-113 Gabriel15 Mbodji5 Kilerich4 Lemuan45 De Jaegere6 Lofolomo8 Claes11 Ake21 Zalán10 Mbaye18 Ementa1 Zommer64 Sabb58 Spilers44 Mechel65 Seis8 Pots20 Vanaken9 Bourjess10 Vetsen67 Diakona7 Tresoldi
Trend predictions
In four of the six previous matches, Zulte-Waregem scored a maximum of three goals. TM 3.5 for 1.71.
Zulte-Waregem did not score in six of the last nine games against Club Brugge. IT1M 0.5 for 2.55.
Forecast
Zulte-Waregem vs Club Brugge 30.10.2026 23:45
Zulte-Waregem continues a strong decline. At the beginning of the season they did not lose in five matches, earning 11 points out of 15 possible – and now we see a gloomy streak of four defeats. Even the confident debut in the Belgian Cup did not inspire a break in the league – in the last round the team lost 0:3 at home to La Louvière. In the series of unsuccessful matches, Zulte-Waregem cannot even score, the drought in the Pro League continues 360 minutes.
Club Brugge, on the other hand, has not had problems since 8 September – and at that time they lost the first Champions League match (2:3 against Aston Villa). The winning streak counts seven matches. In nine league rounds, the team in general could not win, only in the battle against Gante (1:2) – the current leader of the competition. This game was still played in summer.
Zulte-Waregem is already considered a comfortable opponent, and with their current form, Club Brugge should be able to handle them without problems. Forecast: 0-2
Porto — Napoli: Match Preview and Forecast for the Fourth Group Stage Round of the 2026/27 Champions League
Porto — Napoli: Match Preview We have the predictions for the encounter between Porto and Napoli in the fourth round of the group stage of the Champions League for the 2026/27 season. "Porto" surely expects to correct a lot at home, while "Napoli" arrives in Portugal with too many doubts — especially regarding their squad. **Key Points** **Porto** 1. On home ground they dominate the acceleration In the league, Francesco Farioli’s side demolished "Estoril" 4:0. Earlier, the "dragons" beat "A.C. Académica de Viseu" in the cup and "Juventus de Viseu" — both matches ended 1:0. However, European history is different: a 0:1 home loss to PSV and failures away against "Betis" 2:3. There is a contrast: in the national competition they gain rhythm, while in the Champions League they are in a situation where there is almost no margin for another fall. 2. There are losses, but not catastrophic Among the absences before the match is William Gomes: the player suffers an ankle injury and will not be able to play against "Napoli". Vasco Sousa has been injured for a long time. Additionally, the base has the possibility to distribute the load in the last league round: in the match against "Estoril" Farioli used rotation and substitutions. Specifically, André Silva came on for Samu and scored, and Veiga left the field early after a productive stint. This allows the coach not to overload key players before the European fixture. 3. The attack has found good rhythm Porto distributed effectiveness among several players and scored three times in nine minutes of the second half against "Estoril". First, Frocholdt scored in the fourth minute and helped the team take the initiative, Sains doubled the advantage, then André Silva stood out, who came on as a substitute, and soon Veiga closed the match. For the encounter with "Napoli" it is an important signal: the home side has several ways to finish attacks, and the opponent will have to watch more than one player. **Napoli** 1. Results are erratic, the defense does not convince In the Champions League, the Neapolitans beat "Budeo-Glint" 4:3, although with four goals they allowed the opponent to score three times in their own nets. In the league, there was then a brilliant 4:1 victory over "Móncita", but before the trip to Porto the squad lost 0:2 to "Juventus". Among these results there was also a 3:3 draw with "Roma". In the last five matches, Napoli had three games with three or more goals scored, but at the same time usual problems in their own goal. 2. Allegri will have to build the fragmented squad In the match against "Juve" Giovanni Di Lorenzo suffered a muscle tear, Kevin De Bruyne a ligament sprain of the ankle, and Mattias Olivera also left the field with an injury. His participation in the match with "Porto" is questionable. Additionally, the absentees Alessandro Buoniorno, Leonardo Spina, Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, Allison Santos and Benoua Badiashil are already missing. An additional uncertainty relates to Rasmussen Høilund — the forward missed the match against "Juventus" due to illness and trained separately. 3. Even De Bruyne’s exit does not guarantee the usual quality Even if the midfielder manages to recover for the fixture, having his optimal form immediately after the injury would be premature. Limited availability can affect the intensity of ball work, movement between lines and the ability to maintain a high tempo throughout the game. If De Bruyne does not enter the starting lineup, the most obvious substitution would be Billy Gilmore, who came in his place in the match against "Juventus". In any case, the uncertainty around the Belgian remains an important factor when evaluating Napoli’s offensive potential. **Approximate lineups** 4-3-3 3-4-2-1 199 Cocha 4 Kiver 5 Bednarik 12 Sanu 20 Cocha 10 Veiga 13 Rosario 8 Frocholdt 17 Sains 11 Pepa 9 Omorion 1 Meret 31 Bekema 13 Rahmani 16 Zamora 21 Polito 99 Zambo-Angissa 11 De Bruyne 17 Oliveira 8 Maktoine 26 Vergara 19 Høilund 12 **Betting on the trend** In the last four matches of "Porto" and five of the last nine away trips of "Napoli", at least one of the teams did not score. Odds: OZ — not 2.17. In three of the last four encounters of "Porto" and three of the five last away trips of "Napoli", no more than two goals were scored. Odds: TM 2.5 for 2.09. **Forecast** Porto vs Napoli 05.11.2026 00:00 Porto has arguments to expect a result. Farioli’s team won their last three matches in national tournaments, and the 4:0 defeat of "Estoril" showed the variety with which the home side can finish attacks. On the other hand, defeats against PSV and "Betis" remind that in the Champions League this rhythm is not always maintained. Napoli’s situation is even less predictable: victories over "Budeo-Glint" and "Móncita" along with a draw against "Roma" and the loss to "Juventus", and the defense allows too much to opponents. An impressive list of squad problems adds up. Several key players, including Di Lorenzo and De Bruyne, are in doubt, and the absence of the latter is especially painful for construction. However, it cannot be ruled out that, without perfect stability, they can score in mass, as demonstrated in the match against "Budeo-Glint". But in the trip against "Porto", which has just found an offensive rhythm and has time for rotation, squad losses may outweigh. The preference here is logical towards the home side: "Porto" seems a more coherent option, and Napoli’s problems are too extensive to ignore. Forecast: 2-1
