La Louvière vs Mechelen - Pro League

Two teams in deep crisis

La Louvière are rock bottom with zero points after three matchdays, Mechelen just above them with one point. Two teams on a poor run, facing this fixture with an obligation to react. The kind of match where the fear of losing can freeze everything.

La Louvière still without a win

Three games, three defeats and an already negative goal difference: the locals' start to the season is turning into a nightmare. Their proclaimed danger man, Bryan Soumaré, hasn't found the net yet this season, and the injury list doesn't help, with Henok Teklab and Mouhamed Belkheir on the sidelines. Hard to make them a reliable favourite, even at home.

Mechelen have had their measure

The key reference point: in their last two meetings, Mechelen came out on top each time, including a 0-2 win snatched on La Louvière's pitch. The visitors aren't winning either at the moment, but they at least know how to grab a draw, with three stalemates in their last six outings. That's enough to avoid defeat in such a tense duel.

Two teams in crisis, a La Louvière still without a win and a Mechelen that have already made them buckle twice: the bet is Mechelen or the draw. Reasonable confidence in that outcome, more cautious on the exact score given two leaky defences. To avoid: being tempted by a home win purely because they're playing at home.