With the regular season now concluded, the Belgian Pro League enters a decisive phase as the final verdicts are set to be delivered—starting with the identity of the third and final team to be relegated to the Challenger Pro League after Beerschot VA and KV Kortrijk. The name of the third relegated club will be confirmed after the second leg of the play-off match scheduled for Friday, May 23, at the Jan Breydel Stadium, where hosts Cercle Brugge will take on Patro Eisden. The road to survival looks smooth for Cercle Brugge, who delivered a dominant 5-1 away win in the first leg, putting Patro Eisden in a position where only a historic sporting miracle would allow them to clinch a first-ever promotion to the Belgian Pro League. Bernd Storck’s side has endured a disappointing campaign overall: despite reaching the Round of 16 in the UEFA Europa Conference League, they finished 13th in the regular season and slipped to 14th place in the Relegation Group. Patro Eisden, who placed fifth in the Challenger Pro League, clearly showed their limitations in the first leg, suffering a heavy defeat that—barring miracles—will deny them a spot in Belgium's top flight next season. Nevertheless, Stijn Stijnen’s men will give everything they have in pursuit of a return to the Belgian Pro League, a dream that has eluded the club for more than sixty years.

Cercle Brugge Recent Form and Key Stats

By beating Patro Eisden 5-1 in the first leg, Cercle Brugge ended a two-game losing streak in the Relegation Group of the Belgian Pro League, having previously fallen 4-2 to Beerschot VA and 0-2 to Kortrijk. In their last five matches, they've shown strong attacking form with 11 goals scored—but have also conceded 11, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities.

At home, Cercle Brugge have lost just two of their last 12 matches across all competitions, including the Conference League, with five wins and five draws. In 2025, they’ve consistently found the net at home, failing to score in only two games: a 0-0 draw against Royal Antwerp and a 0-2 loss to Kortrijk. In their three home matches during the Relegation Group, they earned two wins and one loss, scoring five and conceding four.

Patro Eisden Recent Form and Key Stats

Before the heavy 5-1 home loss to Cercle Brugge, Patro Eisden had enjoyed a five-game unbeaten run, including four consecutive wins between mid-April and early May, followed by a 1-1 draw with Lokeren-Temse on May 10. In their last five matches, they’ve recorded three wins, one draw, and one defeat, averaging 1.8 goals scored and 2 conceded per game.

During the Challenger Pro League regular season, Patro Eisden posted a solid away record with 6 wins, 6 draws, and just 2 losses. They scored 22 goals and conceded 12 across 14 away matches. In their two away play-off fixtures leading up to the final, they secured back-to-back 2-1 victories—against Beveren in the quarter-finals and Lokeren-Temse in the semi-finals.

Cercle Brugge vs Patro Eisden Prediction and Tactical Overview

In the first leg, played last Sunday at the Patrostadion, Cercle Brugge demonstrated clear superiority. After a 0-2 first half with goals from Agyekum and Brunner, the visitors ran riot in the second, adding Brunner’s second of the match along with goals from Felipe Augusto and Somers. Patro Eisden’s only goal came in the 94th minute via Congolese striker Mabanza.

The two sides had faced off in previous encounters before this season's play-offs: Cercle Brugge have won eight of the last ten head-to-head matches, with Patro Eisden managing just one draw (in 2016) and one win, dating back to December 2000. The hosts also boast a strong home record—just two home defeats in the last five months, one of which was the city derby against title-contenders Club Brugge.

For these reasons, our Cercle Brugge vs Patro Eisden prediction, focusing on this Belgian Pro League relegation play-off final and powered by the BetMines algorithm, favors a home win and, consequently, Cercle Brugge’s survival in the top division for next season.

• Cercle Brugge vs Patro Eisden prediction of the BetMines algorithm predicts the sign 1 at 42%.
  
  
• Cercle Brugge vs Patro Eisden prediction of the BetMines algorithm predicts the sign X at 27%.
  
  
• Cercle Brugge vs Patro Eisden prediction of the BetMines algorithm predicts the sign 2 at 31%.

Cercle Brugge vs Patro Eisden Predicted Lineups

CERCLE BRUGGE (3-4-2-1): Warleson; Perrin, Ravych, Utkus; Magnee, Francis, Agyekum, Nazinho; Somers, Brunner; Felipe Augusto. Manager: Bernd Storck

PATRO EISDEN (4-3-3): Belin; Che, Renson, Borry, Kis; Pietermaat, Peeters, Eenoo; Abid, Bammens, Kiankaulua. Manager: Stijn Stijnen