========================================================
(Yves Herman/Reuters)
========================================================
Currently six points clear at the top and looking to claim a 31st domestic championship, ROYAL SPORTING CLUB ANDERLECHT will have a score to settle when the Brussels-based club host visiting ROYAL STANDARD DE LIEGE at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock on Sunday.
Although trainer ARIEL JACOBS’ charges have lost just two while winning 15 of 22 Jupiler Pro League contests this term, one of those setbacks was the 5-1 shellacking Standard Liege inflicted upon Anderlecht in early October.
As a matter of fact, Anderlecht easily lead the Belgian top flight with just 14 goals conceded this season; subtract the five balls put past him by Standard Liege in the last meeting and Belgium international goalkeeper SILVIO PROTO has allowed a mere nine goals in the other twenty-one games (0.43 avg) while posting 13 shutouts in between the sticks for the Purple and White this campaign.
========================================================
========================================================
Belgium international goalkeeper SILVIO PROTO of RSC Anderlecht makes a sliding save on Portugal World Cup midfielder DANNY (10) of FC Zenit St. Petersburg, whose 30.0 million Euro move from FC Dynamo Moscow set a Russian league record in August of 2008, during the UEFA Europa League match this past fall at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock in Brussels. (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)
========================================================
One interesting twist to the match is the return of Belgium international JELLE VAN DAMME to the Jupiler Pro League after an ill-fated journey to England earlier this year. The 26-year-old defender was sold by RSC Anderlecht to Premier League club FC Wolverhampton for the transfer fee of 2.5 million English pounds this past summer. After washing out with just six league appearances for Wolves, however, van Damme was transfered by Wolverhampton to Standard Liege for the amount it had originally paid for the Belgian defender at the end of November.
Standard Liege are sitting in sixth place in the Jupiler Pro League at the moment having won ten and lost eight of their 21 matches played. 21-year-old midfielder MEHDI CARCELA-GONZALEZ, who declared his aliegance to the national team of Morocco just this past December, leads Les Rouches with nine goals this season. Next is 20-year-old striker GOHI BI ZORO CYRIAC of Ivory Coast, acquired from English club Charlton Athletic in January of 2009, who has eight goals for Standard Liege.
The 17-year-old sensation, Belgium international striker ROMELU LUKAKU tops Anderlecht with 10 goals in the top flight this term. Right behind the teenager on the scoring chart for Les Mauves et Blancs is three-time Belgian Footballer of the Year, the Morocco international MBARK BOUSSOUFA. The 26-year-old winger has already matched his haul last season with another nine goals thus far in the Jupiler Pro League.
========================================================
========================================================
17-year-old Belgium international striker ROMELU LUKAKU (14), who has scored four goals in Europe for RSC Anderlecht this season, battles for the ball with AEK Athens defender SAVAS GENTSOGLOU (90) during the UEFA Europa League match this past fall at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock in Brussels. (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)
