Anderlecht claimed a narrow but significant 1-0 victory over rivals Standard Liege in a fiercely contested Jupiler Pro League encounter at Lotto Park on Sunday, with Mihajlo Cvetkovic’s second-half goal proving decisive in a match where both defenses largely held sway.

In front of a fervent home crowd, Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi set his team up in a fluid 4-2-3-1, looking for dominance in midfield through the creative presence of Thorgan Hazard and Nathan-Dylan Saliba. Standard Liege, under Vincent Euvrard, matched this shape, relying on Thomas Henry to spearhead the attack while trying to disrupt Anderlecht’s rhythm in possession.

The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides probing for weaknesses but struggling to break through organized defensive lines. Anderlecht edged possession at 55%, yet clear-cut chances were rare. Thorgan Hazard and César Huerta both fired off target, while Adnane Abid’s speculative effort for the visitors failed to trouble Colin Coosemans in the Anderlecht goal. The main talking points were yellow cards for Nilson Angulo and Ibe Hautekiet, setting an early physical tone in midfield.

The breakthrough arrived just nine minutes after the interval. Anderlecht built pressure through successive attacks, and Mihajlo Cvetkovic found himself in space, calmly converting from close range after a slick passage of play, sending the home support into raptures. Cvetkovic’s goal was the product of dogged midfield work and a rare defensive lapse from Standard, who up to that point had frustrated most of Anderlecht’s forward forays.

Standard Liege responded with attacking substitutions and nearly found their equalizer in the 79th minute, only for Ibrahim Karamoko’s would-be leveller to be ruled out for a foul in the buildup. The incident ratcheted up the tension, and Standard’s frustration boiled over in the closing stages. Karamoko, already booked, was shown a direct red card in the 90th minute for a rash challenge, ending any realistic hopes of a late Standard comeback.

Statistically, Anderlecht’s win owed as much to discipline as to their attacking play. They managed five shots, all off target, but controlled the ball and stifled Standard’s transitions, allowing just four Standard efforts in total. With only two fouls apiece, both teams displayed remarkable restraint for such a high-stakes fixture—a tribute to the careful officiating of Bram Van Driessche.

The result keeps Anderlecht in the hunt at the top end of the table and delivers a psychological blow to Standard, who remain stuck in mid-table. For Hasi’s men, it was a statement win built on grit, patience, and a moment of quality from Cvetkovic—one that could loom large as the title race intensifies in the months ahead.

> For video highlights from a verified source, see the match recap published by the official "Belgian Pro League" YouTube channel, which boasts over 100,000 subscribers and provides an authoritative summary of Sunday’s action.