The Champion’s Play-offs are in full swing, and after just two match days, the battle looks completely different. Union started with a certain lead, but saw it diminish last week due to Anderlecht’s win. In this direct duel, which is also a Brussels derby, it will immediately be determined who takes the lead in this championship round. Read here about the chances each team has to win this match.
Brussels Derby
The combination of a Brussels derby and a title match will undoubtedly create fireworks at the Lotto Park. RUSG has already defeated the purple and white neighbors several times in a row in the Jupiler Pro League and wants to continue that streak. On the other hand, Anderlecht players may want to reaffirm their role as the best Brussels team they’ve held for years. In the previous 10 matches between the two teams, Union won 8 times, while Anderlecht only managed to win once. But statistics don’t tell the whole story, and anything can happen in the title race. It remains to be seen who will prevail in this Brussels derby and claim the title of the best club in Brussels for a while.
RSC Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht was founded on May 27, 1908, and is affiliated with the Belgian football association with registration number 35. It has purple and white as club colors and plays its home matches at the Lotto Park. Since 1935, RSCA has been competing in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. It has won the national title thirty-four times, making it the club with the most titles in Belgium. Anderlecht has also won the Belgian Cup nine times and the Belgian Super Cup ten times. In European competitions, Anderlecht has achieved success, winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, and the UEFA Cup once.
Anderlecht started the championship round with 32 points, which was 3 less than Union and 4 more than Club Brugge and Antwerp. On the first matchday, they just edged past Antwerp, but on the second matchday, Club Brugge was the better team. Because Union couldn’t secure any points during the playoffs, Anderlecht remains in second place with the same number of points as Union.
The ‘Mauves’ of Anderlecht are coached by Brian Riemer. The Danish coach can field some Red Devils in his squad, such as Zeno Debast, Jan Vertonghen, and Thorgan Hazard. But the real goal scorers for Anderlecht are Kasper Dolberg and Anders Dreyer. Dolberg has scored 13 goals, while Dreyer has scored 15.
Union SG
Union Saint-Gilles was founded in 1897 and has registration number 10. Since the twenties, they’ve been playing their home matches at the Joseph Marien Stadium. The Unionistes have yellow and blue as their club colors. Union was also the most successful Belgian club before World War II, winning the national title eleven times. So far, only Anderlecht and Club Brugge have more titles. They’ve only been back in the top flight since 2021 after a 48-year absence. In their third year back, they have a chance to win the national title again.
Union started the playoffs with 35 points, which was three more than Anderlecht, nine more than Antwerp and Club, and eleven more than Cercle and Genk. After losing two matches, Union still has 35 points, the same as Anderlecht and only 5 more than Club Brugge and Genk. If they want to stay in the lead, they are almost obliged to win this match. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for them to stay ahead of the other teams.
German Alexander Blessin succeeded Felice Mazzu and Karel Geraerts as coach of Union. He has already led the team to the cup final this year and can also guide them towards a national title. He does this, among other things, with the duo Amoura-Puertas. Mohamed Amoura has already scored 17 goals for Union, while Cameron Puertas has scored 5 goals and registered 14 assists. But those two are not the only goal scorers for Union: Gustaf Nilsson has also scored 12 goals.
Bet on Anderlecht – Union SG
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