Anderlecht forget to push through, but still take their fifth win in a row against weak Eupen and remain in the wake of leader Union

A nonchalant Anderlecht needs a flash of class from the Dolberg-Dreyer Hazard trio to win by the smallest margin against a toothless Eupen (1-0). Anderlecht gets fifteen to fifteen, Eupen remains behind with 0 to 21.

The class difference on paper was also reflected on the field. It took just under ten minutes before the opening goal was already on the board. A subtle tap from Dolberg set Dreyer on his way. The Dane crossed the entire field to offer Hazard the opening goal at the perfect moment. A piece of cake for the ex-international, who celebrated with a cartwheel. His children will be happy. Instead of ten minutes, the above could also have said ten seconds. However, after some wrangling, Hazard unselfishly decided to lay off instead of finishing. A little later the same two key players, again on a counter: Dreyer advanced, played in Hazard and got the ball back. His place ball zoomed wide. A little earlier, the same Dreyer saw his shot, from inside the penalty area, cleverly saved by Slonina.

Anderlecht were superior, especially in the first twenty minutes. Afterwards it was much less. Nonchalance or even arrogance was responsible for that. The many heels in and around the penalty area showed this. The other side of that coin is that many attacks went wrong. And so Eupen got more involved in the match. Result: a number of (small) chances for the East Cantoners. Keita shot wide, Pantovic headed over first, then he kicked too weakly into the hands of Schmeichel.

Arrogant Anderlecht

Not a cloud in the sky for purple and white. Gattoni replaced the suspended Vertonghen immaculately, Hazard showed his class and Stroeykens once again emerged as the patron in midfield. An evening walk in the Park. One thought: the match could be killed a little faster. Too much tapping in and around the penalty area slowed down the attacking game too much. And the crosses, if they were kicked at all, did not come out either. More than once, a promising attack was reversed and slowed down. That nonchalance was almost punished. After a free kick, the ball ended up at Emond. His shot hit the crossbar.

All in all, the second half was a waste of time. Eupen, which has not scored for six games in a row, failed to create real goal danger. Anderlecht had the ball, but did very little with it. Hazard once kicked wide, Sardella first into the hands of Slonina, a little later he tested his fists. To add some more salt and pepper to this dull match, Riemer brought on both Luis Vazquez and Angulo to loud applause. And the second immediately caused danger. He simply ran past his direct opponent but could not find a point of contact in front of goal.

Anderlecht will visit RWDM next weekend with a fifteen out of fifteen. Eupen remains behind with zero points from the last seven games. Even worse: it could not score a single time. Not a good basis to start the Relegation Play-offs.

Digest

Anderlecht line-up: Schmeichel, Sardella, Debast, Gattoni, Augustinsson, Leoni (Delaney 85′), Rits (Verschaeren 72′), Stroeykens, Dreyer (Angulo 81′), Dolberg (Vazquez 81′), Hazard

Eupen line-up: Slonina, Paeshuyse (Van Genechten 85′), Palsson, Filin, Davidson, Charles-Cook (Deom 70′), Baiye (Marechal (84′), Lambert, Pantovic (Nuhu, 59′), Keita, Emond ( Finbogasson 84′)

Goals: 1-0 Hazard (9′)

Yellow cards: Debast (64′), Hazard (90′)

Referee: Wim Smet

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