Lierse Kempenzonen closed out a 0:2 victory against Merelbeke in a Club Friendlies fixture on Friday evening. The result gave the visitors a clean sheet and two goals in what was another pre-season opportunity for both sides to test their preparations. and here's the thing, these friendlies often reveal more about momentum than the final scoreline suggests.
Merelbeke have struggled for consistency in recent outings. Their last five matches show a mixed picture: a heavy 1:6 defeat to Gent, followed by a 0:2 loss to Lierse Kempenzonen in September, and then three more results including a narrow 1:2 loss to Huk. They did manage a 2:0 win over Racing Mechelen and a 4:3 victory against Udendae, but the overall pattern shows vulnerability.
Lierse Kempenzonen arrived with slightly better recent form. Their last five games included a dominant 6:0 win over Kappellen, a 1:2 loss to Hasselt, and a 1:1 draw with Anderlecht. They also lost 0:1 to Ostende Leuven and 0:1 to Fortuna Sittard, but the victory over Kappellen suggests they can be dangerous when things click.
Without minute-by-minute details to work with, the 0:2 scoreline tells you enough. Lierse found the net twice while keeping Merelbeke quiet. to be fair, pre-season results rarely carry the weight of competitive fixtures, but clean sheets and clinical finishing are still worth noting.
This victory gives Lierse something to build on before the competitive season begins. Merelbeke will need to address the defensive issues that appeared in this match and against Gent. by then, both teams will have had more time to work together and iron out problems.