Anderlecht - Timisoara
Football: Europa League 2009/2010
Thursday, 5th November 2009. Kickoff 19:05

---

Anderlecht

Anderlecht entertain Romanian outfit Poli Timsoara on Thursday as the Belgian giants look to make a decisive step towards the next stage of the Europa League.

The team from Brussels are yet to lose in the group stage and are in good position ahead of the game with five points from the first three games. They managed only a goalless draw in Romania two weeks ago and now manager Ariel Jacobs will expect an improved performance from his men in front of their fans.

Anderlecht have been in decent form lately and have lost only to Club Brugge in the league in the last few weeks. They are lying second in the Jupiler League after securing a 2:0 home win against Lokeren on Saturday.

Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Matias Suarez got the points for Anderlecht who did not look entirely convincing but still secured the win and therefore kept pace with the leaders Brugge.

Now the manager is expected to adopt a more attacking formation as the Belgian side will aim to get a win and therefore consolidate themselves at the second place. Therefore, Suarez and Lukaku are expected to lead the attack.

The former did not start in Romania in a fortnight ago but now the duo are likely to be supported from behind by Mbark Boussoufa who did not play on Saturday due to a domestic ban.

Jelle Van Damme is still serving his ban for the dismissal against Ajax in the previous home game in the group stage. His place should be taken by Bakary Sare. It should be pretty much the same 11 as in the last game as the manager has no new injury worries and no reason to alter.

Marcin Wasilewski and Jan Polak remain on the sidelines for the long term but the rest of the players are fit and the hopes are for a convincing performance against a tough opponent like Timisoara.

Timisoara

Poli Timisoara travel to Anderlecht on Thursday knowing that they need a big performance and a positive result to keep their chances of progress alive.

Timisoara are yet to score a goal in the Europa League group stage and will be desperate for a good result against Anderlect. They won just two points so far from the goalless draw away at Ajax and at home to Anderlecht.

Only a heroic win on Thursday can revive their chances for a place in the next stage and the manager Ion Sabau will try to make his men deliver when it is needed.

Timisoara are finding it hard to find the back of the net though and have gone six European game without finding the back of the net now - Since their first game away at Shakhtar in July.

The manager has seen his men struggle lately in the league as well as they suffered a 1:0 home defeat to Steaua on Sunday. It was a sterile display by the team as they hardly looked like scoring and suffered a rare home defeat in the league. Now the onus is on the players and the manager to turn it around and defy the odds in the upcoming game.

The manager should not make too many big changes for the game as Gheorghe Bucur is set to the lead the attack again. Christian Scutaru and Arman Karamyan should help him on the wings while the three-man midfield should stifle the Belgians.

It is more of the same on the injury front as Marian Cisovsky remains sidelined for the long term with a knee injury. Dorin Goga missed out in the last few games with an ankle problem and is not expected to recover in time for the game.

Srdjan Luchin is back from an injury as he made the bench on Sunday but he is not registered to play in the Europa League and is thus unavailable for the game. The hopes are for a solid performance by the team and a win on the road that will give the team a renewed hope.

Betting advice

If I were a manager of a football club Gunner would have certainly fired me by now after the recent horrible run. But I keep on believing that the positive trend shall arrive sooner than later.

I would suggest trying your luck with the Belgian leaders. On home turf let that be Brugge, Standard or Anderlecht are a real force.

I expect Anderlecht to rise to the big occasion and snatch a convincing victory against surprise Romanian package.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Anderlecht (-0.75) @ 1.75 with Bet365