The first international break of the new Belgian Pro League season is in the books and all clubs returned to domestic action this weekend. There were a handful of surprise results but just one side remains unbeaten after seven weeks of action in the Pro League.

Friday night recap: Homawoo injury overshadows Euvrard home debut

A horrific injury to Standard Liege defender Josue Homawoo overshadowed the first home game in charge for Vincent Euvrard. The Togolese defender had to be stretchered off after an injury just a minute into the game. We wish the defender all the besti n his recovery, and Standard will surely miss him. The summer signing has been their best defender this season. KV Mechelen managed to come back from 1-0 to earn a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal from Kerim Mrabti.

Saturday’s games: Shock in La Louviere

Zulte Waregem grabbed their second win of the season with a 2-0 home victory over OH Leuven. The hosts have played better than their record suggests and will feel like this win was deserved for their performances so far this season. Yet they had to weather a storm of OH Leuven attacks as the away side finished with 25 shots on goal, but only six were on target. Brent Gabriel was solid in goal as Thomas Cales and Yannick Cappelle found the net.

Union St Gilloise remain the only unbeaten side after they overcame a struggling Dender late on. Striker Kevin Rodriguez came off the bench to score in the 87th minute to consign Dender to another defeat. The home side are still looking for their first win of the campaign, although a draw at home to title holders Union would have been a great result.

RAAL La Louviere provided the shock of the weekend with a 1-0 win at home over Club Brugge. The away side were dominant, but a solitary goal from RAAL captain Wagane Faye was enough for all three points. Club really should have grabbed a draw late on, but the usually reliable Christos Tzolis smashed his 97th minute penalty over the stand. RAAL are starting to make their new home stadium a fortress, with no goals conceded in their past three games.

Sunday’s games: Happy returns for Leko and the end of Sint Truiden’s unbeaten run

Ivan Leko returned to Antwerp and escaped with all three points on Sunday afternoon. Despite Gent going down to 10 men after 15 minutes when Samuel Kotto was sent off, the side came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1. Rosen Bozhinov had given Antwerp the lead, but a goal before half-time from new signing Michal Skoras pulled the Buffaloes level. Immediately after half-time Matisse Samoise made it 2-1 and Gent held on to a vital three points. Leko will hope this will be the kick-start that their season desperately needs.

Cercle Brugge and Charleroi played the game of the weekend as the Zebras won 3-2 at the Jan Breydel. Another debutant found the net in Patrick Pflucke, before a mistake from Maxim Delanghe gifted Yacine Titraoui his first goal of the season. Steve Ngoura continued his fine form with a goal from the penalty spot, but Aurellien Scheidler opened his Charleroi account just two minutes later. The Zebras gave away another spot kick with just minutes to go, which Pieter Gerkens dispatched. However, Cercle were unable to force an equaliser.

Despite a red card for youngster Tristan Degreef, Anderlecht were able to battle to a 1-1 draw at home to Genk. Thorsten Fink will be frustrated that his side were unable to find a way through the 10 men of Anderlecht, and was even more frustrated when Luis Vazquez gave the Mauves the lead in the second half. Jusef Erabi came on for his debut and just seven minutes later he opened his account for his new side.

Nacho Ferri was in great form as Westerlo took Sint Truiden apart at the Daio Wasabi Stayen. The forward finished well just before half-time, before he was then fouled after half-time to earn his side a penalty. Griffen Yow scored from the spot before defender Emin Bayram made it 3-0 just before the hour mark. Sint Truiden’s unbeaten start to the campaign came to a disappointing end at home.

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