Preview: Westerlo vs Mechelen - prediction, team news, lineups

Westerlo will be looking to make it back-to-back victories when they welcome Mechelen to the Het Kuipje for Saturday’s round three clash in the Belgian Pro League.

Both teams recorded their first win of the season in the last round of matches, and will be hoping to build on that result to gain early momentum.

Match preview

Westerlo began their competitive reign under Issame Charai with a disappointing 5-2 away defeat against Anderlecht on the opening day of the 2025-26 Belgian Pro League season.

However, De Kemphanen bounced back in solid fashion with a 3-1 win in their first home league game of the season last time out.

The hosts featured in the European Playoffs last term after finishing ninth in the regular season, but ultimately missed out on continental football and will be hoping to go all the way this campaign.

Westerlo are currently seventh with three points after two matches, and they are now set to face a Mechelen side they lost 3-2 against in a preseason friendly back in June.

However, De Kemphanen are unbeaten in their last four league meetings against the visitors, picking up two wins and two draws, with both stalemates coming the last two times they hosted this fixture.

The last time Mechelen won this fixture was back in May 2024, and it was at this ground, a feat they will be looking to replicate this time around.

Frederik Vanderbiest’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by promoted club Zulte Waregem on the opening day, a result that felt somewhat underwhelming.

However, De Kakkers pulled off an impressive result last time out, edging highly-rated Club Brugge 2-1 in their first home game of the season, and this has left them fifth with four points.

Back on the road, Mechelen will hope to stretch their away unbeaten run in competitive matches to five, having drawn three and won one of their last four league games on the road dating back to the previous campaign.

Westerlo Belgian Pro League form:

Westerlo form (all competitions):

Mechelen Belgian Pro League form:

Mechelen form (all competitions):

Team News

Westerlo’s Ivorian forward Fernand Goure will miss this clash due to a knee injury that has kept him out for a while.

Croatian forward Matija Frigan was on the scoresheet in the opening day loss to Anderlecht, and he will be looking to add to his tally when he leads the line again.

Mechelen’s 21-year-old striker Keano Vanrafelghem is likely to be unavailable again due to an abdominal injury he picked up a couple of weeks ago.

Center-back Tommy St. Jago is also sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury that is expected to keep him out later this month.

Westerlo possible starting lineup:

Langendonck; Rommens, Lapage, Bajram, Reynolds; Haspolat, Van den Keybus, Sakamoto, Devine, Yow; Frigan

Mechelen possible starting lineup:

Wolf; Belghali, Halhal, Diouf; Pflucke, Hammar, Schoofs, Zekri; Mrabti; Lauberbach, Storm

We say: Westerlo 1-1 Mechelen

Westerlo and Mechelen could cancel each other out in what looks like a tight Belgian Pro League encounter, with both teams coming fresh off wins that will leave them confident.

While the hosts will have home support behind them, the visitors have performed well in this fixture across the last couple of years and will feel confident having recorded the win against a top side last time out.

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