Inspection of Field and Goalie Options: A Preview of the Union-Anderlecht Match

00:00

Inspection of field at noon

The ball rolled as planned in the Ghelamco Arena on Tuesday. There was never any inconvenience due to heavy snow showers. Let’s wait and see whether the three other quarter-finals can also be completed tonight without any problems. Including Union-Anderlecht. There will be a first inspection of the field at 12 noon. On Tuesday, the RMI forecasts looked more favorable than in recent days. (VH)

17:33
Yesterday

Will newcomer Heinz Lindner become Union’s joker?

Union made its first incoming transfer on Tuesday during the winter break. Austrian goalkeeper Heinz Lindner was recruited. Will he be the surprise against Anderlecht?

Whether the weather gods will be favorable to the Brussels derby is an open question. It is certain that Union has newcomer Heinz Lindner at its disposal. The 33-year-old goalkeeper is rented until the end of the season. Lindner previously worked for Austria Wien, Grasshoppers Zürich, Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Basel and recently FC Sion. He has 36 international matches and therefore has the necessary experience.

Titleist Anthony Moris is suspended against Anderlecht. It was expected that Joachim Imbrechts would be in goal, but Alexander Blessin has other options. “Heinz Lindner is eligible to play. He trained with the group for the first time on Tuesday and he left an excellent impression. With his experience it is difficult to consider him as a third choice, but I have not yet decided whether I will let him make his debut. I won’t make that decision until the day of the match. He is already an alternative to Anthony.”

This content contains cookies from social media or other external platforms. Because you have disabled these cookies, this content remains hidden. Accept cookies from social media to still display the content.

16:50
Yesterday

Riemer is considering Leoni as Vertonghen’s replacement

February 11, 2021. It has been that long since Anderlecht was able to beat its Brussels rival Union. If RSCA wants to beat them in the cup tomorrow, it will have to do so without captain Jan Vertonghen. Theo Leoni may take his place in the center of the defense.

First the good news: Anderlecht suffered the previous seven defeats against Union in the Jupiler Pro League. In their last cup meeting, in the winter of 2021, the Purple & White gave them a blow in the Duden Park (0-5). It is also a boost that Thorgan Hazard is fit again, although he cannot even play 90 minutes after a flu and knee injury.

Furthermore, coach Brian Riemer cannot call on Amuzu (pubalgia), Vertonghen (ankle), Delaney (muscle injury), Sardella (hamstrings) and now left back Moussa N’Diaye (adductors) also appears to be out of action for weeks. “I have almost no defenders left,” Riemer said today. “But that is part of football, because Union is not at its strongest. We are missing almost a complete defense and they are missing a player in each line. Let’s wait and see how that turns out.”

Brian Riemer talking to Leoni during the internship in Tunisia. © BELGA

The question is how Riemer will solve that. It looks like the Danish trainer will opt for the Zeno Debast-Theo Leoni tandem at the center back. “Theo has great football intelligence. If I put him in defense, he will of course not win ten head duels against Nilsson with his 1m74, but he will add footballing ability. And at the RSCA Futures he already played ten matches in defense together with Debast.” Moreover, Debast will probably inherit the captaincy in the absence of Vertonghen, Riemer reported. “He wants and can be a leader and if Vertonghen is missing, he will automatically take more responsibility.”

The quarter-final offers goalkeeper Maxime Dupé the opportunity to prove himself once again, after he lost his starting spot due to the arrival of Kasper Schmeichel. “If you ask me whether Maxime will still be here on February 1, I cannot give a definitive answer,” Riemer said about the goalkeeper theme. “He wants more playing minutes, which is not easy because of Schmeichel, but he feels good at Anderlecht, I think.” (VH)

Riemer. © Photo News
2024-01-16 23:00:00
#LIVE #UNIONANDERLECHT #VTM2 #snow #throw #spanner #works #field #inspected #time #noon #Croky #Cup