Standard's trip to Mechelen this Thursday could be one of the most important of the season for Rouches.
This Thursday, Standard will play its last meeting of the calendar year on the lawn of Mechelen, which could be a relatively direct competitor. At the AFAS Stadion, the Rouches will play very big.
In recent weeks, the Matricule 16 has missed several golden opportunities to join the top 6. In Charleroi, against Louvain, at Beerschot, and even against La Gantoise, since the Rouches had opened the score before the intervention of the VAR to cancel Isaac Price's goal.
Standard, which has not won since November 23 against Cercle, now occupies 10th place in the standings with 24 points, just four points behind Union, sixth. Mechelen, seventh, is interspersed, with 26 units.
Looking up… and above all moving away from the bottom of the table
While Antwerp and Genk will challenge each other this week, just like La Gantoise and Union, and Westerlo will experience a difficult trip to Club Brugge, Standard will have a good card to play in Mechelen… but could also lose his very last chances of entering the Champions Play-Offs in a miraculous way.
The calculation is simple: Standard can return to one point in the top 6 by overtaking Mechelen in the event of a victory, or potentially find themselves seven lengths behind, and say goodbye once and for all. Especially since the Rouches will finish the championship with Westerlo, Genk, Bruges, Anderlecht, Union and Antwerp. Five teams from the current top 6, and the eleventh.
This last trip of the year will determine the end of the season for Ivan Leko's men, who has already often declared that the month of December defines future objectives. With a victory, Standard will still be able to look upwards, and could put the play-downs seven points behind them. Otherwise, a small wind of doubt could arise on the banks of the Meuse.
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