In Thursday’s matchup for the ninth day of Play-Off 1 in the Jupiler League, Lokeren plays host to Standard, with the Rouches finding themselves in a precarious position. Holding onto their first-place position has been largely due to the faltering performances of their closest competitors. Despite the pressure, Standard has demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. Lokeren, on the other hand, sits with little left to strive for in these playoffs, as they are already assured of European qualification for the next season.
Beyond the respective objectives of the two clubs, this fixture offers an intriguing battle between the top two scorers of the Belgian championship. The clash between Standard’s Michy Batshuayi and Lokeren’s Hamdi Harbaoui promises to be captivating, as both players have notched an impressive 21 goals each. However, Batshuayi holds a slight advantage over Harbaoui due to his higher tally of away goals (12 against 11).
Batshuayi, recently awarded the Ebony Shoe, is also nominated for Jupiler Pro League Player of the Year. Similarly, Harbaoui, enjoying a stellar season in Belgium, is in contention for the same honor.
Tags: Batshuayi, Belgium, duel, Harbaoui, Jupiler Pro League, Lokeren, Play-Off 1, Standard
