Anderlecht Lacks Defensive Rigor Following Dominant Defeat to Gent
RSC Anderlecht lacks the defensive rigor required to match its ambitions after suffering another dominant yet scoreless defeat, analyst Alex Teklak told La Dernière Heure on October 26, 2026.
Structural Vulnerabilities Exposed on the Pitch
The defeat to Gand highlighted vulnerabilities that have plagued Anderlecht across multiple matches. Teklak criticized Oleg Reabciuk for failing to play the offside trap correctly on Gent’s opening goal, while noting that Kaïs Barry applied insufficient pressure on Araujo during the decisive sequences. Despite controlling the ball for long stretches, the visiting side produced little end product in the final third.
Possession Metrics Fail to Yield Victories
Controlling the tempo has not brought success to the Brussels outfit. Teklak pointed out that Anderlecht dominated possession against KSK Beveren, Dinamo Zagreb, and Gent, yet lost all three matches. The team consistently requires too many scoring chances to find the back of the net, creating an imbalance between territorial dominance and clinical finishing.
Midfield Lapses in Transition Management
Defensive transition management remains a glaring weakness for the squad. Midfielders Mario Stroeykens and Thelo Aasgaard failed to break opposition transitions when momentum shifted, according to the analyst. In the Belgian Pro League, defensive solidity yields better long-term rewards than fluid possession play that leaves the backline exposed.
Credibility Test Looms for Manager Vitor Bruno
Manager Vitor Bruno faces the difficult task of convincing senior players to maintain their tactical approach without letting doubt erode team morale. Anderlecht must evaluate whether to approach upcoming matches, such as the fixture against Club Brugge, with an open tactical setup or a more pragmatic defensive posture given their current vulnerabilities.
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