On Matchday 6 of the Champions’ Play-offs, Sporting heads to the Bosuil. After two wins over KAA Gent last week, the Mauves aim to keep the momentum going against Antwerp—especially with the Belgian Cup final looming this Sunday. “But I’ve seen a hungry group in training that’s not thinking about the final yet,” said our coach during his Wednesday press conference. Watch his full press conference on Mauve TV.
RSCA gained confidence from their double clash with KAA Gent. The home game was especially convincing, with Kasper Dolberg stealing the show by scoring four times in a 5-0 win. “In Gent, we just did our job by winning,” Hasi reflected. “Now we want to win at Antwerp too, to maintain our positive flow. We might make some changes, but only for good reasons.” The coach acknowledges the Cup final is a golden opportunity for silverware—something the club is hungry for. “In recent days, I’ve seen a determined group that isn’t distracted by Sunday’s final, and that’s very encouraging.”
Besnik Hasi will travel to Antwerp with a slightly adjusted squad. Jan-Carlo Simić is suspended after his yellow card in Gent. Jan Vertonghen trained with the group and could be included if he has no physical reaction. “There are a few players with discomfort,” the coach added. Thorgan Hazard is one of them—he didn’t train with the team and won’t be part of the squad tomorrow. Adryelson and Mario Stroeykens remain unavailable, as does Killian Sardella, who underwent a medical procedure. “We only have two days between matches—it’s tight.” But Hasi prefers to see the injury situation in a positive light: “It creates opportunities for other players. They can step up ahead of the final. If someone plays a strong game tomorrow, they’ll gain confidence for Sunday and might even start.”
The midweek match against Antwerp isn’t ideal preparation for the final. “But the same goes for Club Brugge,” Hasi pointed out, “and we have to deal with that.” Kick-off at the Bosuil is Thursday at 13:30.