LIVE CERCLE-ANDERLECHT (1:30 PM). The Purple & White must miss Leoni with a minor injury | Jupiler Pro League

The Purple & White are crossing to Bruges without midfielder Theo Leoni. Riemer cannot rely on our compatriot. Leoni has to drop out injured. Furthermore, the expected names in the RSCA selection.

Anderlecht faces a difficult away match against Cercle Brugge on Sunday. A team that Brian Riemer compares with Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds. “They play very conservatively and often man-to-man,” says the Anderlecht coach. “We have to be smart and use the spaces.”

For the time being, there are few teams that have found an answer to the pressing football of number four Cercle Brugge. “The most difficult thing about preparing for these matches is their uniqueness,” says Riemer. Teams like Standard, OHL or KV Mechelen play in a similar way, while you never actually encounter a team like Cercle anymore. That makes it difficult. I compare them to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds. They play very conservatively and often man-to-man.”

What should you do about that? “We must be aware that we will not have a moment of peace soon,” says Riemer. “Our defense will be under constant pressure. We have to be smart and take advantage of the spaces that become available. That was really emphasized this week.”

Good news for Riemer is the return of Francis Amuzu. The lightning-fast winger missed the previous games against OH Leuven and La Louvière due to an adductor injury, but is fit again. “He feels very good. Over the last six weeks he has been struggling with various aches and pains, which meant we could use him less often than we would have liked, but that is now a thing of the past,” concludes the Danish coach. (BFA)