Dunkerque vs KVC Westerlo

Lebeau's goal early in the second half was decisive. Dunkerque had been comfortable but not dominant in the first period, and Westerlo would have sensed an opportunity had they equalised early in the second half. Instead, Lebeau's strike forced the Belgians to chase the game, leaving space at the back that Dunkerque exploited for the third.

Adrien Lebeau (Dunkerque) — The midfielder's second-half goal was the moment that broke Westerlo's resistance. His movement between the lines caused problems throughout.

Dunkerque's defensive unit — Conceding only one goal across their three pre-season wins (Samsunspor, Standard Liège, Westerlo) suggests Castro's side are building solid foundations ahead of the new Ligue 2 campaign.

Westerlo's late response — To their credit, the visitors kept pushing until the end and were rewarded with a consolation goal, but they lacked the cutting edge to mount a full recovery.

The match followed a familiar pre-season pattern: Dunkerque's greater match sharpness — this was their fifth friendly of the summer — showed in their ability to sustain pressure across 90 minutes. Westerlo, still in the early stages of their own preparation, grew into the game but lacked the rhythm to trouble Dunkerque's backline consistently. The 3-1 scoreline perhaps flattered Dunkerque slightly in terms of the balance of play, but there was no disputing their superiority in the decisive moments.

For Dunkerque, this marks three consecutive pre-season victories after a 2-1 win over Samsunspor on 22 July and a 2-0 success against Standard Liège on 18 July. The French side will look to maintain momentum in their remaining friendlies before the Ligue 2 season resumes.

Westerlo, meanwhile, are still finding their feet after a 0-0 draw with Al-Fayha on 22 July and a 2-0 win over Helmond Sport on 12 July. The Belgian side have further friendlies scheduled before the start of the Jupiler Pro League campaign.

Dunkerque's next fixture is to be confirmed, while Westerlo continue their pre-season programme with further friendlies as they prepare for the 2026-27 Belgian season.

A professional, controlled performance from Dunkerque against a Westerlo side that offered sporadic threat but lacked the cohesion to sustain pressure. The French side's pre-season form — three wins from three in July — suggests they are ahead of schedule in their preparations. Westerlo will take encouragement from their late goal but have work to do before the competitive season begins.