Cercle Brugge
Hannes Van der Bruggen returned to full fitness this week after a lengthy injury absence, though he is not expected to start for Cercle Brugge against Anderlecht.
Krys Kouassi made his first start of this run against Charleroi and is expected to keep his place. Emmanuel Kakou, who had started three of the last five matches, was left out for that game and remains out of the side, while Steve Ngoura — substituted in each of his four starts during this spell — is not expected to return after coming on for the final 32 minutes last time.
Anderlecht
Giulian Biancone is missing from Anderlecht's trip to Cercle Brugge with a thigh muscle injury, after starting three of the club's last five league games at right centre-back. Andrew Omobamidele was considered highly unlikely to be ready for this match, while Ali Maamar returned from international duty with a minor physical problem, yet both are expected to start.
In midfield, Lukáš Ambros has started three of the last five matches on the right, with Marten Winkler and Noa Ojea each also starting there once. Ojea is another of the players who came back from international duty with a minor physical problem, and his availability for this game remains unclear.
