Standard Liege - Royal Antwerp

Standard Liege host Royal Antwerp at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on 5 September 2026 for this matchday 5 encounter, pitting a side finding momentum against visitors looking to recover from a heavy setback. The hosts are expected to deploy a forward line featuring Adnane Abid, Bernard Nguene, and Salieu Drammeh, supported by a midfield trio of Rayan Touzghar, Alexis Trouillet, and Casper Nielsen. Royal Antwerp, meanwhile, will likely look to Michael Frey and Luis Narh to lead their attack, with Taishi Brandon Nozawa starting in goal behind a defensive unit tasked with tightening up after a difficult run of results.

Standard Liege enter the fixture following a productive 2-1 victory over OH Leuven, extending their unbeaten run in the Belgian Pro League. Conversely, Royal Antwerp arrive at Stade Maurice Dufrasne reeling from a 4-1 defeat at the hands of St. Truiden. The head-to-head history remains competitive, though Standard Liege dominated their last meeting in May 2026 with a 5-0 win. Both teams will be eager to establish control in the middle of the park as they navigate this early stage of the campaign.