Leuven,Belgium – OH Leuven,a team that recently ascended from assistant-coach status to Champions League qualification,prepares to face FC Twente in a pivotal match following a surprising 2-2 draw against Paris FC last week. The game represents a notable step for the belgian club and itS head coach,Van Den Abbeel,who took the helm last year.
Just seasons ago, Leuven languished near the bottom of the league; now, they compete on the European stage, a testament to their rapid progress and a potential catalyst for growth in Belgian women’s football. This competition isn’t solely about results, according to Van Den Abbeel, but about inspiring a new generation of players and attracting further investment in the sport. FC Twente also began their Champions League campaign strongly, securing a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
“On paper, twente is the favorite, it is a very good team with many qualities,” stated Kim Everaerts. “But we showed last week that we also have many qualities. We are evenly matched. It will be a great battle.”
Van Den Abbeel emphasizes the broader impact of Leuven’s success. “This is big,” he said. “It can only be inspiring, so that more girls start playing football and more clubs invest in women’s football.” The match against Twente offers Leuven an prospect to build on their momentum and further elevate the profile of women’s football in belgium.
