Zulte Waregem vs Dender - Jupiler Pro League

Zulte Waregem prepare to host Dender at the home ground on May 9, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their Jupiler Pro League season. Enzo Maresca and Rico Lewis held a pre-match press conference on Saturday as Manchester City prepare to face Atletico Madrid in their third pre-season friendly of the summer.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Jupiler Pro League contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. Zulte Waregem have been picking up results at a respectable clip, LWDWD over their last five with a season win rate of 50%. Dender's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Skinner had another year to run on his contract but has decided to move on a month out from United beginning their Women’s Super League season at London City Lionesses on September 4.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Zulte Waregem will look to impose their style on home soil, while Dender are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "If I’m Manchester United right now, I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. Forward line just needs to click and will come in time.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 2-2 draw feels like a fitting result. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.