"We made a switch in our heads"
AA Gent had started as the favourites to win Group A, but took a dramatic start with 2 defeats, against KV Oostende and at Lierse. Coach Mircea Rednic was ousted and replaced by Peter Balette and Bernd Thijs, a former player, two weeks ago. Since then, AA Gent got it rolling again. Last week, they beat Waasland-Beveren 2-1 at home, yesterday they took it 2-4 in Beveren.
Habib Habibou scored 3 goals, bringing his tally to 17. The league's top scorer, Standard's Michy Batshuayi, has 20. Ghent seem to be a completely different team: "It was a mental thing. There is a different mentality now, we made a switch in our heads. We enjoy playing football again, and this makes a big difference. It brings us good results."
KV Oostende won at Lierse, 0-2, and have 10 points from 4 matches. AA Gent are second with 6 points and travel to Ostend next week in what could be a decisive match. The group winner will face the winner of Group B in a double play-off match. In Group B, Charleroi took the lead by downing Cercle Brugge 2-0. Challengers KV Kortrijk were stunned by KV Mechelen, 2-1. Charleroi have 10 points now, Kortrijk have 7.
The winner of the group finals, will ultimately face the number 4 of Play-off 1 in a double play-off match for the final European ticket.