Anderlecht beat Zulte Waregem 3-0 behind Marten Winkler brace in Jupiler Pro League

First-half pressure and Augustinsson chance

Anderlecht hosted Zulte Waregem on matchday 7 of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, seeking to respond to a recent defeat in European competition. The Brussels side displayed complete control from the opening whistle, outplaying the visitors and never looking troubled across the ninety minutes of play. The home team had to wait through the initial fifteen minutes of the match before creating their first dangerous opportunity in front of goal. That chance arrived in the 18th minute when defender Ludwig Augustinsson connected with a header from point-blank range. Zulte Waregem goalkeeper Louis Bostyn preserved the early deadlock by making a sharp save with his foot to turn away Augustinsson's effort.

Bentayeb opens the scoring

Anderlecht maintained steady offensive pressure after that opening opportunity, pinning Zulte Waregem deep into their own defensive territory. Marten Winkler created the next clear chance by redirecting a long pass with his head into the path of Danylo Sikan, though Sikan was unable to keep his shot on target. The home side continued to press forward as the first half neared its conclusion. Their pressure produced the opening goal in the 40th minute when Bentayeb beat the defense to score, putting Anderlecht ahead 1-0 shortly before the half-time whistle. The goal rewarded the hosts for forty minutes of territorial control.

Winkler brace and video review

Anderlecht built on their lead immediately after the restart through two goals scored by Marten Winkler. In the 48th minute, Winkler gathered possession outside the penalty area and beat Bostyn with a strike from distance to double the advantage. Winkler found the net again in the 54th minute to record his brace and push the scoreline to 3-0. Match officials confirmed the goal following a lengthy review by the video assistant referee. The sequence of three goals, scored within a span of fourteen minutes between the 40th and 54th minutes of play, effectively put the outcome beyond Zulte Waregem's reach. Anderlecht controlled the final thirty minutes without conceding any clear chances.

Four consecutive clean sheets in league play

The 3-0 victory returns Anderlecht to winning form after their recent defeat in European competition and provides positive momentum ahead of the upcoming international break. The Brussels club remains unbeaten in the Jupiler Pro League since suffering an away defeat against Union Saint-Gilloise in late August. The result also represents Anderlecht's fourth consecutive clean sheet in domestic championship fixtures, having conceded no goals in league matches since that late-August defeat. Zulte Waregem departed the capital unable to break through the home defense, having conceded three unanswered goals in the middle third of the contest.