After nearly two decades away from the top flight, La Louviere have finally secured their return to the Jupiler Pro League, the pinnacle of Belgian football.

The city is brimming with anticipation as top-flight football returns to the Stade du Tivoli, a ground steeped in tradition and ready to witness elite competition once again.

Their comeback, however, begins with a stern test as La Louviere will host none other than Standard Liege, one of Belgium’s most decorated and recognisable clubs.

Match preview

The Stade du Tivoli will be buzzing with excitement on Saturday evening as the newly promoted side kick off their Jupiler Pro League campaign at home against Belgian giants Standard Liege.

Led by experienced coach Frederic Taquin, La Louviere return to the big stage with plenty of confidence. They ended last season as runners-up in the Challenger Pro League and have carried that momentum into the new campaign. With an impressive 83% win rate from their last six matches, the home side look like a side determined not just to survive in the top tier, but to compete.

One major factor working in their favour is their formidable home form as the Wolves are unbeaten in their last 12 home matches, and with the Tivoli crowd firmly behind them, they will be eager to extend that record against a Standard Liege side still struggling to find consistency.

The home ground could very well be their fortress again this season, and there is no better time to make that statement than on opening weekend.

The visitors have question marks hanging over their attack as they have failed to score in their last four Jupiler Pro League outings, a worrying trend that manager Mircea Rednic will be desperate to reverse.

Although they have held their own in recent away fixtures after drawing each of their last three league games on the road, their lack of cutting edge in the final third remains a glaring issue.

That said, Standard have not been pushovers away from home with their last four away league games all ending in draws, including a gritty goalless result against KV Mechelen where they defied the odds.

In pre-season, they continued that theme, holding French side Lens to a 2-2 draw and drawing 0-0 with Westerlo, before picking up a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Dutch side Maastricht.

But it is hard to ignore Standard’s away-day struggles overall as they have now gone seven straight away games without a win in the league, a run that dates back months.

Whether it is mental fatigue or tactical issues, something is not clicking for them on the road, and a hostile atmosphere in La Louviere will not make it any easier.

For the newly-promoted side, the challenge will be managing expectations, as while excitement is high and the squad is full of belief, they must remain grounded against a side with Standard’s pedigree.

A disciplined defensive performance and clinical finishing could be enough to pull off a dream result and send a message to the rest of the league.

For the fans at the Stade du Tivoli on Saturday, this is not just another fixture, it is the start of a new era.

And if recent form is anything to go by, La Louviere might just make a big statement on their long-awaited return.

La Louviere friendly form:

Standard Liege friendly form:

Team News

La Louviere will have the luxury of a fully fit squad heading into their first top-flight match in nearly two decades.

With no injury concerns to worry about, Taquin has the rare opportunity to select from his full roster, giving him a strong foundation to build on as the team begins life in the Jupiler Pro League.

La Louviere will also be giving fans their first glimpse of new arrival Ousseynou “Oucasse” Mendy, who is tipped to play a role in midfield. The versatile Senegalese player could add both steel and creativity to the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, recent signings Lucas Bretelle and Theo Epalle are expected to be named among the substitutes as they continue to settle into their new surroundings.

On the other side, Standard will be missing some key names as defender Bosko Sutalo, striker Andi Zeqiri, and centre-back David Bates have all been ruled out due to injury, weakening the visitors in both defence and attack.

However, there is some positive news for head coach Rednic, as Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo has returned to full fitness and is expected to be part of the starting eleven.

La Louviere possible starting lineup:

De Schrevel; Gillot, Beka Beka, Belkheir, Ito; Riou, Sidibe; Nlome, Da Costa, Mendy; Guindo

Standard Liege possible starting lineup:

Epolo; Bolingoli, Mohr, Homawoo, Fossey; Ngoy, Ilaimaharitra, Karamoko; Eckert, Henry, Abid

We say: La Louviere 1-0 Standard Liege

The home team will hope to return to the big time with a bang and given Standard’s poor away form, La Louviere will fancy their chances and give this one a go.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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