LA LOUVIÈRE, Belgium (Interstat) — The 2026 Belgian First Amateur Division season kicks off Sunday with a matchup featuring two clubs on contrasting trajectories as RAAL La Louvière hosts Patro Eisden Maasmechelen at Stade Communal du Tivoli.

RAAL La Louvière enters the new campaign with momentum, coming off a 2-1 away victory over Beerschot VAC on Dec. 2 in its most recent competitive match. That result followed another 2-1 road win at KSK Heist in late October, suggesting a resilient side capable of grinding out results.

In stark contrast, Patro Eisden Maasmechelen concluded its previous season with a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of top-flight side KAA Gent in a cup match on Oct. 30. Its league form last fall was mixed, recording a 2-1 home win over Oudenaarde and a 2-1 away victory at KSV Oudenaarde, both on Sept. 6.

Statistical models heavily favor the hosts. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-0 victory for RAAL La Louvière, while its ELO rating system gives the home side an 81.30 percent probability of winning the Week 1 contest.

This opening fixture offers RAAL La Louvière an opportunity to start its promotion push on a positive note before a significant test in its next scheduled outing, a trip to face Pro League powerhouse Royal Antwerp FC in cup action on Jan. 13.

For Patro Eisden, the match is a chance to reset after its lopsided loss to Gent and prove its preseason form is not indicative of its league capabilities. The visitors will need to shore up a defense that conceded five goals in its last time out to challenge a confident Louvière side.

Kickoff is set for Sunday afternoon in La Louvière. The match marks the official beginning of both clubs’ pursuits in Belgium’s third tier for the 2025-26 season.