In a commanding display at the Planet Group Arena, Gent dismantled Standard Liège with a resounding 4-0 victory on October 25, 2025. The hosts jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, solidifying their place in the top half of the Jupiler Pro League standings.
The match began with a flurry of action as Siebe Van Der Heyden opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Seizing on a defensive lapse from Standard, he found the net to set the tone for what would become a dominant showing by Gent. Just ten minutes later, Omri Gandelman, who has emerged as a vital player for Gent this season, doubled their advantage, striking in the 17th minute and pushing Standard deeper into a defensive posture.
There was little respite for the visitors, who found themselves overwhelmed as Gent's relentless pressing continued to create chances. Van Der Heyden struck again just before half-time, netting his second in the 45th minute and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. It was a perfect encapsulation of Gent's recent resurgence following a difficult loss to Zulte Waregem just days earlier.
Despite a brief moment of hope fueled by their last-gasp victory against Antwerp the previous week, Standard appeared unsettled and lacking the creativity in the final third that had haunted them for much of the season. With only four wins from their last eleven fixtures, the visitors struggled to find any rhythm or cohesiveness throughout the match.
The second half saw Gent maintain their grip on the game, peppering the Standard defense with chances. Gandelman, who was everywhere on the pitch, capped off his fine performance with a goal in the 83rd minute, sealing the 4-0 rout and marking a personal highlight in what has been a strong season for him so far.
This result moved Gent up to seventh place in the league with 17 points from 11 matches, while Standard Liège dropped to 11th, languishing with 14 points. The gulf in performance was stark, as Gent showcased the attacking prowess that had eluded them in previous matches, while Standard found themselves in a precarious situation, inching closer to the relegation zone.
Looking ahead, Gent will seek to build on this momentum as they eye a solid finish in the upper tier of the league. Meanwhile, Standard's management will face increasing pressure to address the team's consistent underperformance. If today's display is anything to go by, it appears the road to recovery will be a long and arduous journey for the beleaguered visitors.