Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Belgian Pro League
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THE FACTS
When is Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp on and what time does it start? Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp will take place on Sunday 3rd September, 2023 – 15:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information
Where can I watch Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp in the UK? Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
UNION SAINT-GILLOISE
As an affiliate club of Brighton and Hove Albion, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise have been able to consistently overperform their expectations with smart recruitment, even when key players depart on a regular basis. They missed out on the Belgian title last season but Union SG are expected to challenge, once again, both domestically and in European competition.
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise come into this on the back of a slender 1-0 win away to Lugano in their most recent outing in the second-leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs. They won that tie on aggregate by three goals to nil and bar a 4-0 loss to Mechelen they have been one of the strongest sides in Belgian football for some time.
ANTWERP
Antwerp began their 2022/23 Jupiler Pro League season with nine successive victories before fading away mid-way through the campaign. They did eventually recover, though, to win the Belgian title for the first time in over 50 years on the final day of the season with a second-half stoppage-time winning goal from former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld.
The reigning champions have begun the season in typically defensive fashion with Mark van Bommel in the dugout, playing their contrarian football in comparison to the rest of the Belgian top-flight. They come into this on the back of defeating AEK Athens by three goals to one on aggregate in order to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
THE TEAM NEWS
UNION SAINT-GILLOISE
Union SG can name an unchanged side for this weekend’s encounter but they will be without former Accrington defender Ross Sykes due to an injury for this one.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Moris; Mac Allister, Burgess, Machida; Terho, Sadiki, Vanhoutte, Lapoussin; Amani, Eckert, Puertas
UNAVAILABLE: Sykes (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ANTWERP
Mark van Bommel may be temped to make changed for this weekend after their crucial match against AEK Athens in Europe during the week.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Butez; De Laet, Alderweireld, Coulibaly, Vines; Vermeeren, Keita; Balikwisha, Ekkelenkamp, Muja; Janssen
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: De Wolf (Injured), Corbanie (Injured), Verhulst (Injured), Engels (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Union SG and Antwerp are likely to fight for the title this season and this game as well as Gent versus Club Brugge is another tie that is expected to be competitive at the top-of-the-table. Both teams have just endured tough and hard-fought European ties in midweek and both, therefore, will be understandably a bit stretched in this match. Despite Antwerp winning the league last season, Union SG come into this one as relatively firm favourites, especially with their home advantage.
TIP: UNION SG TO WIN
