Oostende vs Royal Antwerp Prediction 08.02.2024

• Competition: Belgian Cup - Semi-Finals 1st Leg
• Date: Thursday, 8th, February 2024
• Kickoff: 19:00 UTC / 20.00 CET
• Venue: Diaz Arena (Oostende)

Facing off against Royal Antwerp at the Versluys Arena on Thursday, second-tier outfit Oostende will aim to capitalize on home advantage and secure a favorable first-leg result in the semifinals of the Belgian Cup.

Oostende vs Royal Antwerp Betting Tips: BTTS

Oostende is gearing up for a historic quest as they seek to hoist the Belgian Cup trophy for the first time in the club's history, determined to erase the memory of their defeat to Zulte Waregem in the 2016-17 final.

Despite competing in the second tier of Belgian football, De Kustboys have already made it abundantly clear that they shouldn't be underestimated, as they've claimed the scalps of several top-flight teams on their path to the semifinals, knocking out Eupen, Genk, and RWDW from the Croky Cup.

Appointed in mid-January as the new boss, Jamath Shoffner led his team to their first league triumph over the weekend, defeating Koninklijke Lierse 2-1, thereby pulling them off the bottom of the table and establishing a slim one-point advantage over the relegation spots.

Despite the peril of relegation hanging over their heads in the second division, the West Flanders team has demonstrated incredible fortitude thanks to their offensive sharpness, finding the back of the net an impressive 12 times during four cup rounds, driving them even harder to spring a shock against the Belgian champions.

In stark contrast to their Thursday hosts, Royal Antwerp displayed a meteoric resurgence after a stunning 0-1 defeat away to second-to-last Eupen in late December, securing back-to-back wins against the stumbling giant St. Liege with a 2-1 triumph and staging a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Club Brugge last time out.

While defending the domestic title seems nearly impossible for Mark van Bomel's men this term, given their elusive 18-point gap behind runaway leaders Royale Union SG, the Great Old will strive to at least retain the Belgian Cup trophy in their cabinet, but before that, they'll need to surpass the dark horses of this year's national competition.

Antwerp's journey to the top four of the Crocky Cup has been filled with excitement and entertainment, with each of their victories in this competition marked by a wealth of goals, showcasing their ability to compensate for defensive lapses with an explosive offense, knocking out KSK Lierse, Charleroi, and OH Leuven with 12 impressive strikes, albeit failing to keep a clean sheet in the process.

Dutch tactician Mark van Bommel's side will be hoping their attack shines again on Thursday, having triumphed over Oostende in three of their last four clashes with an identical scoreline of 3-0. Despite facing a tough situation, the home ground advantage and previous victories against Antwerp's Jupiler Pro League counterparts could give De Kustboys the courage and confidence to make it difficult for the Belgian champions on their path to the cup final.