Preview: Kortrijk vs. Royal Antwerp - prediction, team news, lineups

On Sunday, Kortrijk will look to win their fourth consecutive league game when they welcome Royal Antwerp to the Guldensporen Stadion.

Meanwhile, third-placed Antwerp will be aiming to continue their promising run of form after losing just once in their last five league games.

Match preview

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After playing their last three competitive matches away from home, Kortrijk will return to familiar surroundings this weekend as they look to continue a run of positive results after losing just once in their last nine league games.

Last weekend, an Ante Palaversa effort and a Faiz Selemani spot-kick guided Kortrijk to a 2-0 victory away to RFC Seraing.

Although, the home dressing room will be slightly downbeat after exiting the Belgian Cup at the quarter-finals stage following a disappointing 3-0 away defeat against Anderlecht.

Karim Belhocine may have been frustrated with his side's performance in midweek, but he will be pleased with Kortrijk's efforts in the league, having accumulated 31 points from their 20 games - they look set to pass last season's 39 point tally with ease.

Resolute defensive performances have been key this season, with Kortrijk keeping seven clean sheets so far this term - only Union SG have more shutouts to their name.

As for Antwerp, they have finished in the top four in the last three seasons and that run looks set to continue this term.

Sunday's visitors enter the fixture in third place and they will look to extend their current unbeaten away run to four games in all competitions.

In their last outing, Antwerp salvaged a point against Genk in the 82nd minute thanks to Viktor Fischer's equaliser, which cancelled out Paul Onuachu's opener.

Like their opponents, they have also defended admirably after keeping six clean sheets this season, with three of those resulting from away fixtures.

After losing only two of their last nine away league games, Brian Priske will be confident that his side can pick up at least a point on Sunday.

Team News

The hosts are expected to be without the services of Eric Ocansey and Rachid Alioui due to injury issues.

Pape Habib Gueye is also out injured, with the forward expected to be absent until February.

Although Dylan Mbayo began last weekend's encounter against Seraing on the bench, he started the cup tie in midweek and is expected to retain his place for Sunday's contest.

As for the visitors, they will have to cope without Ritchie De Laet, who will miss the game due to suspension.

De Laet's absence could mean that Jelle Bataille moves over to right-back, while Sam Vines is expected to come into the left-back spot.

Michel Frey has scored 15 league goals this term, and he will look to add to that tally when he leads the line at the weekend.

Kortrijk possible starting lineup:
Ilic; Dewaele, Sainsbury, Radovanovic, D'Haene; Vandendriessche, Palaversa, Kadri; Mbayo, Selemanie, Badamosi

Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:
Butez; Bataille, Engles, Almeida, Vine; Yusuf, Verstraete, Fischer; Benson, Balikwisha, Frey

We say: Kortrijk 1-2 Royal Antwerp

Royal Antwerp have fared well in recent away games against Kortrijk, winning their last three away games against Sunday's opponents, and we think that they will collect another victory at the weekend.

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