KAA Gent produced a ruthless 4-0 victory over Anderlecht in the Belgian Pro League on October 26, 2026, turning a heated rivalry into a one-sided contest at the Ghelamco Arena. Gent's high-intensity pressing and clinical finishing overwhelmed Anderlecht, who endured a night to forget and saw their title ambitions dented by a heavy away defeat.

Match overview

Gent set the tone inside the opening quarter-hour, pressing Anderlecht's build-up and forcing errors in dangerous areas. The early goal gave the home side confidence, and from that point on the match was played almost entirely in Anderlecht's half. Gent added a second before half-time and then punished Anderlecht's attempts to respond with two more goals after the break.

• 11' Momodou Sonko opened the scoring with a low finish after a high turnover.
• 38' Omri Gandelman doubled the lead with a header from a corner.
• 57' Noah Fadiga made it 3-0 with a powerful run and finish.
• 84' Andrew Hjulsager completed the scoring with a composed strike from the edge of the box.

Key moments

The opening goal was a direct result of Gent's pressing strategy. Anderlecht tried to play out from the back, but a loose pass was intercepted and Sonko finished clinically. The second goal arrived just before half-time, when Gandelman rose highest from a corner to head home. That timing was crucial: it forced Anderlecht to chase the game in the second half, which only created more space for Gent.

Fadiga's goal early in the second period effectively ended the contest. His driving run from midfield exposed Anderlecht's stretched back line, and the finish was emphatic. Hjulsager's late goal added further punishment, but the match had already been decided by Gent's superiority in the first hour.

Tactical story

Gent's 4-3-3 was aggressive without the ball and direct with it. The front three pressed Anderlecht's center-backs, while the midfield trio closed the central lanes and forced play wide. Anderlecht struggled to find their creative players in advanced positions, and their attempts to play through pressure repeatedly broke down.

Anderlecht's 4-2-3-1 became increasingly disconnected as the game wore on. The midfield was overrun, and the defensive line was exposed by Gent's quick transitions. Once Gent scored the third, the match became a matter of game management, and the home side handled it with confidence.

Standout players

Momodou Sonko was electric, scoring the opener and constantly threatening with his movement and dribbling. Omri Gandelman controlled the midfield and added a goal, while Noah Fadiga's energy and direct running caused problems throughout. Andrew Hjulsager's late goal was a reward for a composed performance off the bench.

For Anderlecht, there were few positives. The goalkeeper made several saves to prevent an even heavier defeat, and the young defenders showed effort, but the team's senior players struggled to impose themselves on a difficult night.

Belgian Pro League impact

The win gives Gent a significant boost in the Belgian Pro League standings and strengthens their belief in the race for the top positions. For Anderlecht, the defeat raises questions about their ability to handle high-pressure away fixtures. In a league where consistency decides titles, a 4-0 loss to a direct rival is more than just dropped points: it is a psychological blow that must be answered quickly.