Rik De Mil secured his first win as Gent manager Monday,as the Buffalos defeated Westerlo in a tight,1-0 contest at the Ghelamco Arena[[2]]. The victory comes less than two weeks after De Mil’s controversial move from Charleroi[[3]], and provides a crucial boost as Gent aim to climb the competitive Belgian Pro League standings. The Buffalos will now enter a mid-season break, with league play resuming in January after the Belgian Cup quarterfinals.
Gent secured their first victory under new manager Rik De Mil on Monday, defeating Westerlo in a closely contested match. The Buffalos edged out Westerlo with a final score that remained tight throughout the contest.
Wilfried Kanga nearly put Gent ahead in the 38th minute, hitting the post, while Dogucan Haspolat struck the crossbar for Westerlo deep into added time, in the 91st minute. These near misses highlighted a game of fine margins for both sides.
The match was marred by an injury to Gent’s Matisse Samoise, who went down with a right knee injury in the 78th minute. The severity of the injury is yet to be determined, but it represents a blow to the team.
Rik De Mil’s move to Gent is now official
De Mil took the reins after being pried away from Charleroi on December 10th, stepping in to replace Ivan Leko who had moved to Club Bruges just two days prior. This win marks a positive start to his tenure with Gent.
Gent’s victory lifts them to 8th place in the standings with 26 points, just one point behind the top 6. Standard and Antwerp are currently tied for 6th and 7th place, respectively, both with 27 points. The Belgian Pro League remains highly competitive as teams battle for playoff positioning.
De Mil expressed mixed emotions about leaving Charleroi
Westerlo sits in 10th place with 24 points, four points ahead of the relegation zone, occupied by Oud-Heverlee and La Louvière. The mid-table battle continues to intensify as the season progresses.
The Belgian league will now pause for the holidays, resuming play on January 16th following the quarterfinal matches of the Belgian Cup, scheduled for January 13th, 14th, and 15th.
