Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Nolan Gillot scored twice in the second half as RAAL La Louvière beat Excelsior Virton 3-1 in their third pre-season friendly at Easi Arena.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
RAAL began the brighter of the two sides and took a deserved lead in the 13th minute. Wade drove past the Virton defence down the right and pulled the ball back for Elias Filet, who steered it home from close range.
Virton, playing their second pre-season friendly since winning promotion to the Challenger Pro League, grew into the half and struck back just before the interval. Iheb Goudani — a former RAAL academy product — equalised in the 42nd minute, punishing a momentary lapse in the home defence.
RAAL head coach Frédéric Tavernier rang the changes at half-time, sending out an entirely different XI for the second period. The reshuffle paid off quickly. Nolan Gillot restored the lead in the 56th minute, finishing after a spell of sustained pressure.
RAAL created further chances through Guindo, Lahssaini and Soumaré but could not extend the lead until deep into stoppage time. Gillot completed his brace in the 90+4th minute, converting from close range to put the result beyond doubt.
The turning point
Tavernier's wholesale half-time substitution — 10 changes at the break — could have disrupted the rhythm, but instead it injected fresh energy. Gillot's goal 11 minutes into the second half came after a period of sustained pressure that the first-half side had not managed to sustain after Filet's opener. The shift from a 4-3-3 to a similar shape with different personnel maintained RAAL's control without a drop-off in intensity.
Key performers
Nolan Gillot (RAAL La Louvière) — — ★ Player of the Match. Two well-taken finishes either side of the hour mark. His first restored order after the equaliser; his second provided a scoreline that reflected RAAL's dominance.
Elias Filet (RAAL La Louvière) — — Opened the scoring with a composed finish from Wade's cutback in the 13th minute and led the line well in the first half.
Iheb Goudani (Excelsior Virton) — — The former RAAL academy graduate scored the equaliser against his former club and linked play effectively for Virton in a difficult first half against the run of play.
By the numbers — interpreted
RAAL's 4-0-1 head-to-head record against Virton (now 5-0-1 in 6 meetings) tells a story of local superiority, but the 3-1 scoreline flattered Virton less than a one-goal game at half-time suggested. The provider data records 4 shots on target for RAAL and 4 goals — a conversion rate that reflects clinical finishing rather than volume. RAAL's decision to field a completely different XI in each half (as they did in their 3-2 win at Lokeren on 11 July) shows a squad being built for depth ahead of the Jupiler Pro League season.
What it means
RAAL La Louvière (Jupiler Pro League) have won all three pre-season friendlies to date: 4-0 v Rochefort, 3-2 at Sporting Lokeren, and now 3-1 v Virton. They face LOSC Lille behind closed doors on 18 July before heading to a training camp in Mill.
Excelsior Virton (Challenger Pro League, newly promoted) have lost both pre-season friendlies so far — 4-0 at F91 Dudelange on 11 July and this 3-1 defeat. Their next test is against FC Atert Bissen on 18 July, followed by US Hostert on 22 July.
Verdict
A thoroughly professional pre-season workout from RAAL, who controlled both halves despite fielding two entirely different teams. Gillot's brace was the difference, but the broader takeaway is the depth Tavernier is building. Virton showed flashes in the first half through Goudani but will need sharper defending before the Challenger Pro League campaign begins.
Match Events
Key match events between RAAL La Louvière and Excelsior Virton — 4 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2020
RAAL La Louvière vs Excelsior Virton Head to Head Results· 5
RAAL La Louvière and Excelsior Virton have met 5 times — RAAL La Louvière won 4, Excelsior Virton won 0, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. RAAL La Louvière leads the head-to-head with 4 victories from 5 meetings. A combined 17 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.40 per match (14 for the home side, 3 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (40%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 4 games (80%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. RAAL La Louvière are currently unbeaten in the last 5 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–5 in 2020.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 16 Jul 2026