Preview:Leuven vs Charleroi - prediction, team news, lineups

Leuven will kick off the new Belgian Pro League campaign with a home clash against Charleroi on Sunday.

While Leuven are yet to play a competitive game in 2025-26, the visitors got their campaign underway with a draw in their midweek Conference League qualifying outing against Hammarby.

Match preview

Leuven enter the new season under new management following the departure of Chris Coleman at the end of last term.

Coleman, who took over the reins in November, oversaw an 11th-placed finish in the regular campaign, before his side finished bottom of the European playoff group with just one win in 10 matches (D5, L4).

The former Wales boss has been replaced by 37-year-old David Hubert, who has secured a swift return to management following his Anderlecht exit in March.

Leuven started their preparations for the new season with a 2-1 defeat in an 180-minute match against sister club Leicester City, before they built confidence with narrow wins over Seraing and Reims.

The hosts will fancy their chances of taking something from Sunday’s fixture, having avoided defeat in each of their last five competitive home games (W2, D3).

They have also recorded clean sheets in the last three of their head-to-head home meetings, including a goalless affair in March.

Meanwhile, Charleroi finished the 2024-25 regular season in 10th position and level on 37 points with Sunday’s opponents.

However, Charleroi performed much better than Leuven in the European playoff group, winning six, drawing three and losing one of their 10 matches to advance to a one-off tie against Royal Antwerp.

Parfait Guiagon proved to be Charleroi’s hero, netting a 95th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory and a place in the Conference League qualifying rounds.

Rik De Mil’s side began their European campaign with a goalless draw against Hammarby in their midweek trip to Sweden, leaving them with work to do in Thursday’s return fixture if they are to set up a third round qualifying tie against Dinamo Minsk or Egnatia.

Charleroi’s current focus will be on their opening league game, with the visitors looking to record an away win over Leuven for the first time since August 2020.

They enjoyed success in their most recent head-to-head meeting in May when Alexandre Stanic netted an 88th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory.

Leuven pre-season form:

L W W

Charleroi form (all competitions):

Team News

Leuven have made a number of additions in the summer transfer window, having signed Akuma Ominami, Viktor Damjanic, Casper Terho, Bryang Kayo and Abdoul Karim Traore.

Ominami is in contention to feature in a centre-back pairing with Ewoud Pletinckx, while Oscar Gil and Takahiro Akimoto are likely to operate as the two full-backs.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Traore could be given the nod over Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi to lead the line in Leuven's opening league game.

Meanwhile, the visitors are expected to be without the services of defender Massamba Sow due to injury.

De Mil may decide to stick with the same backline that started Thursday's European clash with Hammarby, which would see Jeremy Petris, Aiham Ousou, Cheick Keita and Mardochee Nzita all feature in the back four.

The Charleroi boss may opt to make changes elsewhere in a bid to freshen up his lineup, with Zan Rogelj and Antoine Colassin among those who may be considered for starting berths.

Leuven possible starting lineup:

Leysen; Gil, Ominami, Pletinckx, Akimoto; Verstraete, Schrijvers; Balikwisha, Maertens, Verlinden; Traore

Charleroi possible starting lineup:

Delavallee; Petris, Keita, Ousou, Nzita; Titraoui, Camara; Rogelj, Colassin, Guiagon; Stulic

We say: Leuven 1-1 Charleroi

Leuven may have lost in May's away game against Charleroi, but they are unbeaten in each of their previous five competitive home encounters.

Three of those five matches have finished all square, and we think that the two sides could continue that trend by playing out a score draw on Sunday.

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