Anderlecht coach Vitor Bruno blended disappointment with pride following a draw against KRC Genk. The Belgian Pro League match ended 0-0 on Sunday, with the Purple & Whites creating the better chances.
Anderlecht dominated large spells of the game and crafted three or four clear scoring opportunities. However, the Genk goalkeeper Brughmans kept his team in it with two or three top-class saves. Despite the pressure and chances, the scoreboard remained untouched. The home side failed to convert their dominant phase into goals.
This result leaves Anderlecht in 11th place in the standings. They have six points from four matches, with two wins and two losses. The team has scored three goals and conceded five so far this season. They trail league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise by seven points.
The Anderlecht manager gave a mixed reaction immediately after the final whistle. "We deserved much more than a draw," stated Vitor Bruno. He added that his team did more than enough to win. The coach also praised the home crowd, which he called fantastic.
"In the end we are disappointed with the result, but I am very proud of the players' performance. It is not easy in these circumstances." Bruno said. The exact nature of those circumstances was unclear, but a changed squad could be a factor. The absence of the injured Lucas Hey, who is on the injuries list, certainly affects the coach's options.
With this draw, Anderlecht now have seven points from five league matches. The team started the campaign with two victories, two defeats, and this single draw. That inconsistency places the club in mid-table. Their recent form is WLLW, underlining the lack of stability.
The defence did keep a clean sheet against Genk, but with five goals conceded in four games, there is still work to do. The attacking play did create chances against Genk, but the finishing was missing. That will be a point of focus in the coming weeks.
The immediate focus now shifts to the next league fixture. Anderlecht face KV Mechelen away on September 11. Mechelen currently sit 15th in the table, presenting an opportunity to collect points. All upcoming matches can be found on the fixtures page.
For that encounter, the team must convert the missed chances from Sunday into goals. The bravery Bruno spoke about will be needed again in an away match. The game against Mechelen kicks off at 8:45 PM.
