Gent has moved alongside leaders Charleroi in the Jupiler Pro League with a 1-0 win over OH Leuven. Tiago Araujo scored the only goal of the match in the 46th minute following a quick interchange with Momodou Sonko.

How did the only goal of the game come about?

In the 46th minute, Sonko played the ball wide on the left flank, where it rebounded off a Leuven player to Araujo. The Portuguese winger did not hesitate and fired past Van den Heuvel. This was the sole meaningful effort from Gent in a game marked by static play and low tempo.

According to Sporza Voetbal, this was the decisive moment that secured the win despite a lacklustre first half in which Gent failed to create a chance for 45 minutes.

Who was named man of the match?

Tiago Araujo was awarded man of the match for his match-winning goal, although there were few standout performers in a game devoid of highlights. Sonko provided the assist but lacked precision in his final touch.

The same outlet noted that Gent now has 12 points from four games, a perfect record last seen in the 2001/2002 season, and shares the league lead with Charleroi.

What does Michel-Ange Balikwisha say about his ambitions at Gent?

Balikwisha told VoetbalFocus that he wants to rediscover his joy of playing at Gent and establish himself in an ambitious squad. He cited the European qualification and strong start as motivation to aim high.

He made it clear he does not expect to start immediately due to his arrival from Celtic, but intends to force his way into the team by earning minutes and becoming decisive.

Which players are currently sidelined for Gent?

Hyllarion Goore and Matisse Samoise are both unavailable due to injury, affecting squad depth for upcoming fixtures.

Gent sits second in the Jupiler Pro League with 12 points from 4 matches (4W-0D-0L), a goal difference of +5 (7 scored, 2 conceded), and faces Cercle Brugge away on 6 September 2026.

For more information on upcoming matches, see the fixtures. For an overview of the current squad, visit the squad. For detailed performance data, consult the stats.