Preview: Anderlecht vs Zulte Waregem - prediction, team news, lineups

Anderlecht will be aiming to make it three wins from their three matches at the start of the new Belgian Pro League campaign when they host Zulte Waregem on Sunday afternoon.

The home side are top of the Belgian Pro League table, collecting six points from two games, while Zulte Waregem occupy 13th, having picked up one point from their first two fixtures of the new campaign.

Match preview

Anderlecht's first competitive match of their 2025-26 campaign was a Europa League second qualifying round fixture against Hacken, and they managed to record a 1-0 victory in the first leg of that tie.

However, the Purple and Whites suffered huge disappointment in the return fixture on home soil, losing 2-1, before going down 4-2 on penalties, with the team knocked out of the Europa League.

That said, Besnik Hasi's side are in a brilliant spot in their Conference League tie, having beaten Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 in the first leg of their third qualifying round contest on Thursday night.

Domestically, Anderlecht have two wins from two matches at the start of the season, beating Westerlo 5-2 in their campaign opener, before recording a 2-0 victory over Cercle Brugge, and they sit at the top of the table, boasting six points from their opening two fixtures.

Anderlecht actually finished fourth in the Belgian Pro League last season, while they have not managed to win the top prize in Belgium since the 2016-17 campaign.

Zulte Waregem, meanwhile, opened their 2025-26 Belgian Pro League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Mechelen on July 26, before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Westerlo last time out.

As a result, a total of one point from two matches has left them in 13th spot in the division, but not too much can be read into the league table at this stage of proceedings, as they are only two points off sixth.

Sven Vandenbroeck's side are the reigning Challenger Pro League champions, finishing at the top of the second tier last season to earn a position in the top flight for the 2025-26 season.

Essevee have never won the Belgian Pro League, but they actually finished second in 2012-13, so they know what it takes to challenge high up the division, and the visitors will certainly be the fresher of the two teams entering this match due to Anderlecht's European exploits on Thursday night.

Anderlecht Belgian Pro League form:

Anderlecht form (all competitions):

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Zulte Waregem Belgian Pro League form:

Team News

Thorgan Hazard has been in excellent form for Anderlecht in the early stages of the season, scoring three times in five appearances, and the 32-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field this weekend.

Kasper Dolberg also has three goals to his name this term and is set to be given the nod in the final third of the field, while Nilson Angulo - two goals and one assist this season - will also start.

However, Ali Maamar, Ilay Camara, Killian Sardella, Cedric Hatenboer and Zoumana Keita are out of Sunday's fixture due to injury problems.

As for Zulte Waregem, Jelle Vossen is already off the mark in terms of goals this season, and the 36-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field for the away side.

Jeppe Erenbjerg is the only other player in the squad to find the back of the net this term, and he will also be a notable starter for the visitors in this contest.

However, Atli Barkarson has been ruled out for Zulte Waregem due to a fitness issue.

Anderlecht possible starting lineup:

Coosemans; Vroninks, Kana, Hey, N'Diaye; Llansana, De Cat; Verschaeren, Hazard, Angulo; Dolberg

Zulte Waregem possible starting lineup:

Gabriel; Nyssen, Tanghe, Lemoine, Cappelle; Claes, Nnadi; Traore, Erenbjerg, Opoku; Vossen

We say: Anderlecht 2-0 Zulte Waregem

Anderlecht have so much quality in the final third of the field, and it is incredibly difficult to back against them in this match, with the hosts likely to collect all three points in routine fashion.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.