Peter Vandenbempt saw a “boring” top match on Sunday, but a deserved winner (and eternal standout): “I put him at 1 for the Golden Shoe”

Is there a change of throne in the Jupiler Pro League? After a head-to-head match with Genk, Club Brugge has moved within one point of the lead. Anderlecht is also sneaking up in the rankings. Our analyst Peter Vandenbempt reflects on the past match day and casually fills in his top two for the Golden Boot. “He is a brilliant player with a mesmerizing touch on the ball,” he said.

Yesterday, Club Brugge and KRC Genk played the highlight of the match day, but the match was still disappointing.

Look, there was also Beerschot – Standard on Saturday. These are two teams that hardly kick on goal and cannot score, but despite the 0-0 it was still a really fun match. On Sunday the two teams faced each other, which are always the best in the class in terms of offensive statistics, but except for the last fifteen minutes it was still a fairly boring match.

Strangely enough, Tolu’s penalty miss gave Club Brugge and its fans a boost of energy. I actually didn’t think it was a penalty, but for the match it was good that it was whistled anyway.

Conclusion: Genk disappointed after all. It is confirmation of the lower level of form that we have seen in recent weeks. The fresh and sparkling football of the first months has disappeared.

It could just be a gloomy Christmas for Genk.

Peter Vandenbempt

Perhaps that is also the reason why trainer Fink has opted for caution. He said beforehand that he was playing to win at Club, but there was little evidence of that.

Afterwards he also kept saying that Club Brugge is the number one in Belgium. Perhaps he has repeated that a bit too much in his own dressing room. There was little courage, initiative, pace and quality on the ball. These are all things that Genk would otherwise show in abundance. It was just a weak performance.

It was also striking how the otherwise friendly man Fink reacted irritably and grumpily to questions about this. But if your team plays differently than usual, questions will naturally arise.

Okay, he also reacted a bit irritated to questions after that 4-0 against Union, but it still seems to be the reaction of a trainer who feels that things are no longer going so smoothly: the lead has melted and his team is searching. But actually there is no man overboard, right? The preliminary round of Genk was fine.

On Sunday, Genk will have a great opportunity to clear all doubts at home against Anderlecht. On the other hand, it may already be necessary, because Genk has to go to the Bosuil on Boxing Day. So yes, it could easily be a gloomy Christmas too.

Club Brugge, on the other hand, has again come within a point of Genk. For many, they are the favorites to become champions again.

That has actually been the case for years with their rich core, but despite this, their titles have proven to be anything but obvious. We remember last year well, but the two years before that were also close. So the rest should certainly not throw in the towel just yet.

Club Brugge will rightly receive praise for its performance in 2024, but it remains the same team that not so long ago barely survived against KV Mechelen, won with luck against Leuven or was caught against Beerschot.

Club also has the expertise and experience in every line to decide.

Peter Vandenbempt

Anyway, yesterday was certainly a deserved victory for Club Brugge. Even though I had the impression that there was some caution, Club did take initiative and showed courage. They also have expertise and experience in every line to decide.

Just look at Hans Vanaken. I agree with all the praise he is currently receiving. Every year, voices emerge that wonder out loud: is it gradually over for Vanaken at the Club? But that certainly appears not to be the case. He is so often, so good.

He is also a point of calm and support for Club Brugge in the Champions League with his unadulterated class. In addition, he is also decisive with his goals and assists.

Look, I’m going to fill out my voting form for the Golden Shoe and I’ll just set it to 1.

Anderlecht, which won 0-2 against Sint-Truiden, also had a great team building week.

In Prague they had to survive to achieve a strong victory and also show collective character and fight against STVV. If you can win twice, that is invaluable for the group feeling.

Also because many substitutes were able to contribute and succeeded under difficult circumstances. I may be making a bit of a caricature of it, but there was a whole list of absentees. Almost everyone who could direct Anderlecht’s game individually was not available.

Look, I put him second on my voting form just after Hans Vanaken.

Peter Vandenbempt

That’s why it was mainly a battle between the lines rather than really good football, although I must say that it was quite good on the ball. STVV may have had 25 goal attempts, but Anderlecht certainly had no fewer real chances.

With top scorer Adriano Bertaccini, Sint-Truiden might have been able to draw, but Anderlecht’s victory was certainly not undeserved.

I was just talking about Vanaken, but Anderlecht of course has Kasper Dolberg. I have praised him before, but I will say it again: brilliant player with an enchanting touch. The defining player of Anderlecht.

Look, I put him second on my voting form just after Hans Vanaken.

Peter Vandenbempt