HEVERLEE, Belgium (Interstat) — Standard Liege opened its Belgian First Division A campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Sporting Oud-Heverlee Leuven on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at King Power at Den Dreef Stadion.

The visitors, heavily favored pre-match, delivered a performance that matched the statistical projections. Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a 3-0 win for Standard Liege, while its ELO rating system gave the club an 85.30 percent probability of victory. The final margin, while slightly narrower due to a late consolation goal, confirmed Standard’s dominance on the day.

The match remained scoreless until just before halftime when Standard Liege’s Henok Teklab broke the deadlock. The forward found the net in the 48th minute, sending the visiting supporters into celebration and setting the tone for the second half.

Standard Liege solidified its control after the break. Substitute Dennis Eckert made a decisive impact, doubling the lead in the 65th minute. Eckert was not finished, adding a second goal of his own just 15 minutes later in the 80th minute to put the result beyond doubt. His brace off the bench was the key individual performance of the contest.

Sporting Oud-Heverlee Leuven, playing at home, managed to avoid a shutout in the closing stages. Defender Ewoud Pletinckx scored a goal in the 80th minute to provide a modest response for the hosts, but it proved to be only a consolation as Standard Liege saw out the remaining minutes comfortably.

The result provides an ideal start to the league season for Standard Liege, which begins its First Division A schedule with a perfect record of one win and no losses. Across all competitions, the club’s record now stands at one win and zero losses.

For Sporting Oud-Heverlee Leuven, the defeat marks a disappointing start to its domestic campaign. The home side’s record in the competition falls to zero wins and one loss, mirroring its overall record of zero wins and one loss across all matches this season. The team will look to regroup after being outplayed by a side that lived up to its pre-game billing as a significant favorite.

The match was organized by the First Division A, the top tier of professional football in Belgium.