Anderlecht’s preparation for the first leg of their Croky Cup semi-final has been far from ideal.
On Monday, Besnik Hasi was relieved of his duties as manager following a dreadful run of results since the turn of the year.
So the pre-match storylines have already been written ahead of Royal Antwerp’s latest visit to Lotto Park, with the search for Hasi’s replacement underway.
Edward Still will take temporary charge of Anderlecht for this crucial cup match, one we have previewed in full below, with sports betting tips and the latest Croky Cup football odds available.
Anderlecht vs Royal Antwerp Preview
It has been a forgettable return to competitive football for Anderlecht in 2026.
The conclusion of the winter break initially brought success with a 1-0 quarter-final win over Gent to reach this stage, but it has been all downhill since then.
Gent got their revenge in the Jupiler Pro League just a few days later, claiming a huge 4-2 home victory, and Anderlecht followed that result with a demoralising 0-0 draw with Dender.
However, things got even worse on the weekend with a shock 2-0 defeat at Standard Liege, and the overall performance was enough for the board to bring an end to Hasi’s reign as manager.
In stark contrast, Antwerp enjoyed a marvellous win on Matchday 23 of the Pro League season, securing a 4-0 victory at Cercle Brugge.
Although, it must be stressed that the result was something of an anomaly in recent weeks, as Antwerp had lost each of the previous two top-flight matches against Dender (1-0) and Charleroi (0-2).
Of course, a 2-1 win over La Louviere in the quarter-finals was a welcome return to action for 2026, but it is clear that this Antwerp side is nowhere close to the finished product.
But neither are Anderlecht, which sets us up for a fascinating semi-final tie, one which is even more important than usual for both sides given the aforementioned Pro League inconsistencies.
The league meeting between the sides at Lotto Park back in September finished 0-0, while it ended 2-2 in December’s clash at the Bousilstadion.
Anderlecht vs Royal Antwerp Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Anderlecht are the favourites to claim a first-leg win here, priced surprisingly low at 1.96. A crucial away success for Antwerp is at odds of 3.90, while the draw is 3.55.
Anderlecht vs Royal Antwerp Betting Tips
Anytime goalscorer – Vincent Janssen @ 2.90
Janssen has been in decent form for Antwerp throughout the season, his strike from the penalty spot at Cercle Brugge taking him up to seven Pro League goals. He was also on target in the 2-2 draw with Anderlecht back in December. With four goals in the previous seven league matches, as well as two more in three Croky Cup appearances thus far, backing Janssen here feels a solid move to make.
Royal Antwerp to win and both teams to score @ 6.75
We fancy both teams to be on the scoresheet at Lotto Park, with each struggling defensively but boasting some strong attack-minded players. And with Anderlecht mustering just one win in the last three on home soil, including a 2-1 loss to Charleroi on December 26, Antwerp eventually get our nod of approval here.
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