Preview:La Louviere vs Charleroi - prediction, team news, lineups

La Louviere and Charleroi will both be looking to record their first victories of their 2025-26 campaigns when they lock horns in the Belgian First Division on Sunday afternoon.

Charleroi have two points to show from their opening two games of the season, but La Louviere are already at the bottom of the Belgian Pro League table, having lost their first two fixtures.

Match preview

La Louviere finished second in the 2024-25 Challenger Pro League to secure a return to the top tier in Belgium, and their main focus for this season is survival, but the early signs have not exactly been terrific.

Indeed, Frederic Taquin's side opened their campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Standard Liege, before going down 1-0 to Gent last time out, with two defeats from two matches leaving them at the bottom of the division.

La Louviere have completely overhauled their squad during the summer window, with a number of players both arriving and departing, and that was needed to give them a chance of competing at the top level.

Three of their signings have been from France's second tier, including winger Theo Epailly, while Lucas Bretelle has also been a notable arrival, joining from US Orleans.

Charleroi, meanwhile, managed to qualify for Europe courtesy of their success in the European competition playoff last season, recording a 2-1 victory over Royal Antwerp at the end of May.

Rik De Mil's side have already been knocked out of the Conference League, though, as they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Hammarby, so their focus is purely on domestic matters.

The Zebras have never won the Belgian First Division, but they were the runners-up in 1968-69, and they are unbeaten at the start of the 2025-26 Belgian Pro League campaign.

Indeed, Charleroi opened their domestic season with a 2-2 draw against OHL before playing out a 1-1 with Sint-Truidense last time out, with two points from two matches leaving them in ninth spot in the table.

De Mil's team have also been active during this summer's transfer window, with their standout arrival proving to be Jakub Napoleon Romsaas from Tromso.

La Louviere Belgian Pro League form:

Charleroi Belgian Pro League form:

Charleroi form (all competitions):

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Team News

La Louviere have not reported any fresh injury concerns from their clash with Gent last time out, and there is every chance that the same XI could be sent onto the field for this match.

The home side should once again line up in a 3-4-3 system, with Mohamed Guindo set to lead the line, while Maxime Pau is expected to continue in a wide area for the promoted outfit.

Charleroi will be without the services of Nikola Stulic following the striker's red card against Sint-Truidense last time out, so Anthony Descotte is in line to be introduced in the final third of the field.

Aiham Ousou is the captain and will be a notable starter in the middle of the away side's defence.

Meanwhile, there is also expected to be a spot in a wide area for Isaac Mbenza, with the number seven scoring eight times and providing 12 assists during his time with Charleroi.

La Louviere possible starting lineup:

Peano; Faye, Maisonneuve, Lamego; Benavides, Gueulette, Lahssaini, Liongola; Pau, Guindo, Sidibe

Charleroi possible starting lineup:

Delavallee; Petris, Sow, Ousou, Nzita; Titaroui, Camara; Rogelj, Colassin, Mbenza; Descotte

We say: La Louviere 1-2 Charleroi

Charleroi will not underestimate La Louviere on Sunday, and we are expecting a close match in terms of the scoreline, but the visitors have enough quality to navigate their way to all three points.

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