Gent vs Mechelen prediction 09.08.2026 | Belgian Pro League

KAA Gent enters this one on the back of a resilient 2025/2026 campaign where they topped the Europe Play-Off group to secure their continental ticket. De Buffalo's maintained active momentum during their recent pre-season, avoiding defeat in all four of their club friendlies by securing two victories and two draws.

Rik De Mil’s men also remain unbeaten in three Conference League qualifying matches and have kept as many clean sheets, navigating a 4-2 penalty shootout triumph over LNZ Cherkasy before taking a crucial 1-0 first-leg win away at Göteborg.

Furthermore, they boast formidable form at the Planet Group Arena after concluding their previous domestic home schedule with an impressive three-match unbeaten run.

To ensure a flawless opening-day performance, the hosts will lean heavily on vital new midfield signing László Bénes to dictate the engine room. However, the squad must manage localized defensive depth issues as starting right-back Matisse Samoise remains a notable absentee while recovering from a long-term knee injury.

KV Mechelen enters this one on the back of a fantastic campaign where they successfully broke into the top six and battled it out in the Champions' Play-Offs. De Kakkers struggled for consistency during their recent pre-season, recording two wins, two defeats, and one draw across five friendlies.

Fred Vanderbiest’s men must also fix their road form to keep up with the league's elite after closing out last season with a worrying seven-match away winless streak with five defeats and two draws.

To spark an upset in this tough fixture, the visitors will look to star forward Benito Raman alongside the high-profile midfield addition of Dennis Praet to dictate the tempo.

Vanderbiest faces early depth issues as crucial winger Bill Antonio remains a noticeable absentee from selection. The 23-year-old sustained a severe ankle injury during a pre-season friendly match against Willem II.