RWD Molenbeek 2022/23: How they are on the verge of promotion to the Belgian Pro League – tactical analysis

After narrowly missing out on promotion to the Belgian Pro League last season, where they lost in the promotion/relegation playoff to RFC Seraing, RWD Molenbeek are on the verge of a return to the Belgian top flight. With the Challenger Pro League currently in the promotion playoff period, Molenbeek sit top of the league, three points clear of SK Beveren.

The club has gone through changes recently, getting relegated the last time they were in the Belgian top flight because of license issues. This forced them to essentially go bust and reform, which placed them in the fifth tier of Belgian football. 

In 2015, two clubs that previously folded merged together, Standaard Wetteren and RWDM, which then became known as the club in its current iteration. That was the start of their new journey, with it now becoming exciting, as in 2021, the club was purchased by American businessman John Textor, who also owns Crystal Palace, Botafogo, and Lyon. Now, under the guidance of former Cercle Brugge and Leuven manager Vincent Euvrard, the club are on the verge of making it into the top flight once again.

This tactical analysis and scout report will look at the success the club has had under the Belgian manager, and also look ahead to the future for the Brussels-based side. 

Formations 

When it comes to the formations that Euvrand has typically lined up his Molenbeek side up in, the image below shows the range of formations that have been utilised this season. 

As the image above shows, the Belgian manager has typically lined his Molenbeek side up in some variation of a three-at-the-back formation, with 57% of the time being in some variation. However, it normally is a 3-4-3, with the formation shifting to a five-back at times during the defensive phases of play. Euvrand has also used a 4-4-2 relatively often, but in more recent fixtures in the Challenger Pro League promotion playoffs, it has been the 3-4-3. As this tactical analysis progresses, we will look at some of the tactics that Vincent Euvrand has used to great success this season.

Pressing with the front three to great success 

One tactic that Vincent Euvrand has successfully implemented this season is the high line of confrontation from the front three during pressing moments. In fact, RWD Molenbeek are statistically one of the best pressing sides in the Challenger Pro League this season, with the graphic below highlighting this.