Gent vs Anderlecht prediction, head-to-head and probable lineups - 18 January 2026
One of the Sunday fixtures of the 21st round in the Belgian Championship will take place at the Planet Group Arena in Ghent, where the local Gent will host the capital’s Anderlecht. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this clash, which comes with a promising chance of success.
Match preview
The hosts enter this match eager to avenge their recent defeat to Anderlecht in the Belgian Cup (0-1), especially on home turf where they have the potential to claim victory. In recent rounds, the "Buffalos" have shown signs of revival - a win over Westerlo and a confident display against Cluj in a friendly should boost their morale.
However, their league campaign remains inconsistent: three losses in their last six games and a lackluster attack. Gent have failed to score in three of their last five official matches, and in head-to-head meetings with Anderlecht, they've lost the last four encounters by an aggregate score of 1-9 - a statistic that can't be overlooked.
The "Purple and Whites" kicked off 2026 with a crucial cup win over this same opponent, giving them a psychological edge ahead of another trip to Ghent. Despite inconsistent league form and no away wins in their last two outings (one loss and one draw), Besnik Hasi’s men remain in the upper reaches of the table.
Anderlecht’s form still raises questions, especially at the back, where they’ve conceded nearly two goals per game recently. Yet their attack remains potent - Thorgan Hazard is in fine shape, and Nicolas Angulo already has four assists this season.
Probable lineups
- Gent: Röf – Volkaert, Paskotsi, Van der Heyden – De Vlieger, Skoras, Goure, Kadri, Ito – Araujo, Kanga
- Anderlecht: Kusemans – N’Diae, Saliba, Ozcan, Sardella – Maamar, De Cat, Hazard, Angulo – Cvetkovic, Bertaccini
Match facts and head-to-head
- Anderlecht have beaten Gent in each of their last four meetings.
- Gent have conceded at least one goal in 5 of their last 6 official matches.
- In the last six head-to-heads, both teams have scored only once.
Prediction
Given Anderlecht’s recent cup success and their dominance in direct encounters, the Brussels side could once again impose their will. However, their away inconsistency makes this a wide-open contest. Gent will be highly motivated to take revenge, but the visitors still look closer to victory. With all this in mind, the logical bet for this match is “Anderlecht with a (0) handicap” at odds of 1.66.
