Cercle Brugge v Kortrijk Preview: Last chance saloon for Kortrijk as Cercle Brugge eye safety | OneFootball

Kortrijk travel to Brugge on Saturday afternoon knowing that they have to take all three points if they want to keep their slim survival hopes alive. After a shock 2-0 defeat to already relegated Beerschot last time out, Bernd Storck’s men with four points behind Sint-Truiden in second place. They will need to win, and then hope that Beerschot can do them a favour on Sunday evening.

For Cercle, they can almost secure their place in the Pro League next season with a win against Kortrijk. Their victory over Sint Truiden last weekend saw them take a two point lead over the Canaries. Should they fail to beat Beerschot and Cercle win, they will be safe. Yet the green and black half of Brugge have not beaten Kortrijk yet this season. The sides met early in the season, with Kortrijk winning 2-1. They have since drawn the previous two meetings. Kortrijk cannot afford to draw the game.

Cercle will be looking to captain Thibo Somers to lead them to victory. The 26-year-old has been in great form during the play-offs with three goals in four games. He now has a career best eight goals for the season. Head coach Jimmy De Wulf also looks to have switched back to Warleson as the sides first choice goalkeeper. An injury for the Brazilian has kept him out of the side for much of the campaign, but even when he was fit Maxime Delanghe had been given the nod.

Kortrijk will be hoping that Abdelkahar Kadri can produce a few more moments of magic before he surely leaves in the summer. The 24-year-old Algerian has scored twice and grabbed three assists in four play-off games so far. He is crucial to the sides chances on Saturday. The Kerels will have to do without experienced midfielder Marco Ilaimaharitra, who is suspended after picking up too many yellow cards.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson