Showtime for Anderlecht and Standard

R. Standard de Liège go head to head with RSC Anderlecht for the Belgian Super Cup on Saturday but both clubs could hardly be blamed for having their minds on another competition. Next week Standard take on Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round while Anderlecht's hopes of reaching that stage were ended by their shock loss to FC BATE Borisov earlier this week.

Early exit
The Belgian Cup holders' ambitions have switched to domestic matters, starting with the showdown against Standard in Liege as Anderlecht bid to complete a hat-trick of consecutive Super Cup wins for the third time, having achieved that feat in both the 1980s and 1990s. "Being knocked out of Europe means there'll be more pressure on league and cup matches, starting with the Super Cup on Saturday," coach Ariël Jacobs said. "As we are already out of Europe, and with the transfer window still open, it would be no surprise to me if some players left."

Coaching change
Standard finished seven points ahead of Anderlecht last season to take the league title away from Brussels, their first championship in 25 years, but go into the Super Cup match and Wednesday's visit of Liverpool with a new coach. The 55-year-old László Bölöni succeeded Michel Preud'homme this summer after the former goalkeeper failed to agree a new contract, moving on to KAA Gent. Capped 108 times by Romania in his playing career, Bölöni has only signed a one-year deal and is focused on immediate success.

Short-term aim
"My job is not to build up a team for the year 2012," he said. "I've to get the maximum out of what we have now, which already is a pretty strong squad." His team go into the match against Anderlecht on the back of a 3-0 friendly loss to AS Saint-Etienne last week but the coach mused: "Standard need that kind of match to grow as a team. Obviously I prefer winning, but playing against a team of a higher standard helps you learn."

Hard work
The Liege club, who beat Anderlecht on penalties to win the Super Cup in 1981 but lost to the same side 12 years later, have kept hold of the spine of last season's squad while adding Croatian defender Tomislav Mikulić and striker Leon Benko from NK Dinamo Zagreb and 1. FC Nürnberg respectively. Captain Steven Defour said: "We kept the group together and already proved we can become champions, so why should we not do so again? "