Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
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THE FACTS
When is Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht on and what time does it start? Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht will take place on Friday 28th June, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht in the UK? Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
UNION SAINT-GILLOISE
Due to their affiliation with Brighton and Hove Albion, being owned by Tony Bloom, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise have adopted a similar off-field philosophy so this summer has seen a fair bit of churn, once again. The Belgians have lost their star striker, Victor Boniface, to Bayer Leverkusen as well as the likes of Teddy Teuma and Siebe van der Heyden. Yorbe Vertessen and Simon Adingra have also left at the end of their loan deals. Whilst that may be damaging to many clubs, Union SG are run in such a way that these are departures are expected, planned for and supposed to happen with the club showing they were capable of losing their manager as well as key players Kaoru Mitoma and Deniz Undav last summer but arguably improving.
ANDERLECHT
Anderlecht have had a few seasons of underwhelming underperformance in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, albeit they did enjoy a deep run into the UEFA Europa Conference League last season. Last summer, they were the club that pinched Union SG boss, Felice Mazzu, but Mazzu was relieved of his duties mid-way through the campaign as problems with the Brussels club clearly ran a bit deeper than simply personnel. Performances improved as the 2022/23 season went on, under the management of Brian Riemer, and will be expecting to challenge for a top four spot in the league this season, after their mid-table finish last year.
THE PREDICTED LINE-UPS
UNION SAINT-GILLOISE
As mentioned in relation to another summer of upheaval at the club, in terms of personnel, picking a predicted Union SG is actually quite a difficult task. In terms of injuries, there is one seemingly long-term absence with former Accrington defender Ross Sykes having picked up an ankle injury in their final pre-season match last week. Coach Alexander Blessin prefers a 3-5-2 system so Les Unionistes will likely witness a competitive debut for Kevin Mac Allister, the bother of Alexis, on the left side of their back-three.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Moris; Machida, Burgess, Mac Allister; Nieuwkoop, Rasmussen, Lazare Vanhoutte, Teklab; Kabangu, Nilsson
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ANDERLECHT
Former Brentford assistant coach, Brian Riemer, has a preferred formation of 4-3-3 but did deploy the 4-4-2 system with Copenhagen in the Danish Superliga. He played the 4-3-3 in the second-half of last season with Anderlecht, though. The visitors have had an enjoyable and impressive pre-season and come into this first game on the back of a 3-0 demolition of Ajax, last weekend. The summer signing of Kasper Dolberg is likely to be a crucial and exciting addition to the club and the league. They will be without both Michael Murillo for a few weeks, due to a hamstring injury, and exciting midfielder Yari Verschaeren until the new year.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Dupe; Patris, Debast, Vertonghen, N’Diaye; Ashimeru, Diawara, Arnstad; Dreyer, Dolberg, Amuzu
UNAVAILABLE: Murillo (Injured), Verschaeren (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
This is as Brussels derby and a potential firecracker to start the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League campaign between two sides who have developed some sort of modern day rivalry, to go with their historic dislike of each other, as a result of the managerial poaching last season. The Belgian top-flight has been one of the most entertaining leagues in the world in recent seasons with over three goals per game last season. An entertaining kick-off is likely in the Forest of Brussels and both teams scoring with over 2.5 goals seems a good bet.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE & OVER 2.5 GOALS
