Cercle Brugge KSV take on the visitors Patro Eisden in the relegation final of Belgian Pro League. The match will be played on Friday, May 23rd at Jan Breydel Stadion (Brugge).
Cercle Brugge have been owned for some time now by Dmitry Rybolovlev. That said, the Russian billionaire remains primarily focused on his flagship project, Monaco, while the Belgian club has largely been left to sustain itself and avoid relegation from the Jupiler Pro League. Last season brought an unexpected breakthrough as Cercle secured an impressive 4th-place finish and earned a spot in European competition. They managed to eliminate Kilmarnock in the early stages of the Europa League but fell to Molde in the next round (0-3 away, 1-0 at home). In the Conference League, they made it to the Round of 16, but bowed out rather meekly to Jagiellonia Białystok — a 0-3 loss in Poland proved too much to overturn, though they did win the second leg 2-0. Domestically, form also plummeted, with three defeats in their final four matches costing them a spot in the mid-table playoffs and instead pushing them into relegation danger. However, they responded with a commanding 5-1 win away from home in the first leg of this playoff tie.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Patro Eisden know this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Nicknamed the "Little Anderlecht," Patro were founded in 1942 but never achieved major success. Two decades ago, the club was on the brink of disappearing due to financial turmoil, but fortunes have changed dramatically. In 2023, they earned promotion to the Challenger Pro League (second division), finishing 6th in their debut season and improving to 5th this term. That earned them a spot in the promotion playoffs, and they showed no fear. They first beat Waasland-Beveren in both legs (3-2 away, 2-1 at home), then dispatched Lokeren-Temse with a 2-1 away win followed by a 1-1 home draw. Against top-flight opposition, however, they were clearly outmatched — only managing a late consolation goal at home in a 1-5 defeat.
The clubs have met ten times in Belgium's second division between 1999 and 2016. Cercle Brugge dominated historically, winning eight of those and losing just once. The hosts may not repeat their emphatic first-leg win, but they remain clear favorites to get the job done. Back Cercle Brugge to secure another victory.
Prediction for the match: Cercle Brugge to win.
