A suffocating sense of déjà vu descended on Lotto Park Saturday evening as Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp played out a sterile 0-0 draw, raising urgent questions about the attacking ambition of two of Belgium’s supposed powerhouses. In a match that promised fireworks — and desperately needed them — both sides instead offered little more than flickers.

The encounter, billed as a potential turning point for two teams languishing below their own expectations, became a showcase of caution over creativity. Anderlecht, historically dominant at home and averaging over two goals per match at Lotto Park, struggled to create clear chances, their recent streak of scoreless games extended to two. Antwerp, meanwhile, entered the contest having conceded in each of their previous seven outings, yet somehow managed to keep a clean sheet without ever truly threatening to break their own scoring drought away from home.

The evening’s clearest action was reserved for the referee’s notebook. Yellow cards for Boubakar Kouyaté and Nathan Saliba in the dying moments summed up a match more notable for its interruptions than its inspiration. Substitutions — including Ibrahim Kanate for Anderlecht and a raft of changes from both benches — failed to inject the needed urgency.

Both sides can point to defensive solidity, but in truth, this was a contest defined by missed opportunities and mutual timidity. Attack Momentum charts show neither team able to seize sustained control, with sporadic forays quickly stifled by cautious midfield play and hesitant finishing. The result leaves Anderlecht in fifth and Antwerp eighth, each desperately seeking direction after disappointing recent form.

Historical context only heightens the disappointment. Anderlecht has not lost to Antwerp in their last five meetings, and the Brussels side typically finds the net against their visitors. Yet on this night, the sense of attacking tradition was nowhere to be found.

For supporters and neutrals alike, the question now looms: Have Belgium’s biggest clubs lost their attacking identity? The evidence from Lotto Park suggests troubling times ahead unless risk and creativity return to the fore. With both managers under scrutiny and the Pro League table tightening, this goalless stalemate may prove less a blip than a symptom of a broader malaise.

As the highlights reel rolls with little more than midfield skirmishes and late bookings, the narrative is clear: Belgian football’s giants must rediscover their bite — before the season slips away.