RAAL retain Peano for upcoming Club Bruges showdown
Marcos Peano received a straight red card in the closing minutes of the Den Dreef clash after a forceful challenge on a Louvanist attacker left RAAL with ten men. The disciplinary board handed him only a suspended sentence, so he will be available for RAAL’s upcoming match against Club Bruges.
Red card leaves RAAL a man down
Oud‑Heverlee Leuven (OHL) took the lead early through a well‑timed strike by Dani van den Hevel. Within minutes Mustapha Isah thought he had equalised, but his effort was ruled out for off‑side. The hosts then doubled the score after a quick one‑two between Wouter George and Traoré, leaving the visitors trailing 2‑0.
Disciplinary verdict spares Peano
La Louvière had been awaiting the official sanction for Peano’s dismissal, which had initially threatened a multi‑match ban. The football authority announced that the Argentine goalkeeper will serve only a suspended one‑match penalty. Consequently, he remains eligible for the next fixtures of the “Loups”.
The red card and the two‑goal deficit contributed to a disappointing defeat that hurt RAAL’s fight for survival in the league. Despite the loss, the team stays within reach of the relegation‑avoidance zone. Coach Edward Still had already altered his line‑up from the previous win, leaving Gruber on the bench for Wade.
Peano fit for Club Bruges clash
With the suspension lifted, Peano will be on the bench for RAAL’s next encounter with Club Bruges. The upcoming fixture is crucial as the club seeks points to climb out of the danger zone. Fans will be eager to see whether the Argentine can help stabilise the defence after the recent setback.
RAAL entered the Den Dreef visit after a convincing 3‑0 victory at the Easi Arena against Courtrai. Last season the “Loups” enjoyed a four‑on‑six record against OHL and recalled a 1‑2 win at the same venue, thanks to a double from Jerry Afriyie. Edward Still’s tactical tweak also saw Wade replace Gruber in the starting eleven.
In the second half OHL continued to press, coming close to a surprise equaliser in the 67th minute when Opoku failed to intercept a Delos cross, allowing Nkoa a shot that Dani van den Hevel saved spectacularly. Five minutes later a promising counter‑attack by George and Mirisola was halted by a decisive tackle from Faye, whose alleged handball was reviewed by VAR and dismissed. The match ended with RAAL reduced to ten men after Peano’s second red card for a reckless challenge.
Peano’s availability restores a key option between the posts as RAAL prepares for the Club Bruges test. The club will hope that the suspended sanction allows the goalkeeper to contribute without the shadow of further disciplinary risk.