Stumbling Gent and Charleroi could play out bore draw

Belgian Championship playoffs
Premier Sports, 7.30pm Friday

Gent and Charleroi have struggled with the transition from the Belgian First Division A regular season to the Championship playoffs and a stalemate looks the most likely outcome when these sides meet at the Ghelamco Arena.

Charleroi won the reverse fixture 2-1 last month but that was their only win in their last 14 matches, while Gent followed it up with a 3-1 defeat to Standard Liege and have lost three of their last four contests.

Neither side is in good form and viewers should probably not have high expectations given that this match pits the worst defence in the playoffs against the bluntest attack in the top six.

Charleroi have shipped a dismal 15 goals in the playoffs, including a 3-1 defeat to Anderlecht and a 6-0 hammering by leaders Club Brugge, but they should be confident of taming a Gent attack who have recorded just three goals in their last five matches.

Draw specialists Charleroi mustered up more stalemates (12) than any other side in the regular season and manager Felice Mazzu will likely view a point at Gent as both credible and possible.

Meanwhile, the conservative hosts, who rarely deploy more than one front man, may view this as more of a must-not-lose game than a must-win encounter, as they remain in the mix for Europa League qualification.

Recommendation
Draw
2pts 58-19 188Bet

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