Challenger Pro League play-off preview: The race for the Belgian Pro League begins on Thursday evening | OneFootball

The Challenger Pro League play-offs kick off on Thursday evening at 20.30 Belgian time. Patro Eisden, SK Beveren, Lokeren-Temse and RWDM face each other with the hope of making it to the top flight. However, this is certainly a marathon and not a sprint. The winner of the play-offs still has to face the side that finishes third from bottom in the Pro League over two legs before they can claim promotion. We preview both games below.

Patro Eisden v SK Beveren

SK Beveren will be confident going into the two legged affair with Patro Eisden. The side from just outside of Antwerp have not lost to Patro this season, drawing at home before winning 2-1 away as recently as the beginning of March. Beveren really strengthened in January and put together a successful run of form that see’s them enter the play-offs with just one defeat in their last five. That was five games ago, with a run of three wins and a draw since then. They will be looking to Lennart Mertens to supply the goals, but in Mathis Servais they have an excellent creator. The midfielder has eight goals and seven assists so far this season. Young head coach Marink Reedijk will be hoping that his side’s experienced players will step up.

Patro Eisden were one of the second highest scorers in the league behind Zulte Waregem, with 51 goals in 28 games. They did lose their top scorer Keano Vanrafelghem in January but still managed to comfortably secure a play-off spot. Like Beveren, they have only suffered one defeat in their last five, with two draws and two wins. Stijn Stijnen will be looking for the experienced Lukas Van Eenoo to create chances for the frontline, with the former Westerlo captain having provided eight assists already. Winger Adnane Abid has also been in great form with five goals and seven assists so far this season.

Lokeren-Temse v RWDM

All eyes will be on how RWDM react to the final day drama when they face Lokeren-Temse. The side missed out late on as Zulte Waregem struck and then RAAL La Louviere won late in Lommel to deny RWDM an instant return to the top flight. They have since sacked head coach Yannick Ferrera and turned to Lyon’s youth coach Gueïda Fofana for the play-offs. The side have beaten their opponents twice this season, 4-1 away and then 1-0 at home. However, Lokeren are a better side than when they were beaten in the first game between the sides. Ilyes Ziani is the key man for the side, with nine assists and seven goals. Striker Piotr Parzyszek has contributed nine goals, while January returnee Mickaël Biron has grabbed five since coming back. Biron was key in their promotion last time around and they will hope he can step up again.

Lokeren were the form side at the end of the regular season. The side put together five wins in a row to go from relegation battlers to play-off surprise package. They have talent and will be hoping to take advantage of a fragile RWDM. In former Belgian international Radja Nainggolan they have a potential match winner with an eye for the spectacular. Stijn Vreven was only appointed head coach in February of this year but has done a great job so far. Samuel Ntamack leads the side with eight goals, while former Oostende man Indy Boonen has three goals and leads the side with five assists. Boonen, like Nainggolan, can produce moments of magic which may well make the difference. Lokeren should certainly not be underestimated.

The second legs of the play-off’s will take place on Sunday afternoon.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson