On Sunday, February 23, another thrilling Brussels derby is set to take place. This time, Anderlecht and Union Saint-Gilloise will face off at Lotto Park. The rivalry between these two clubs has only intensified in recent years, and with the Belgian title race in full swing, this match carries even more weight. Read all about it in this article.
The Brussels Derby
This match becomes even more exciting as both teams currently sit in the top four. Union is just one point ahead of Anderlecht, making the gap between them razor-thin. With Club Brugge and Genk leading the pack, both teams will need to collect as many points as possible, especially with Antwerp and Gent also close behind in the top six, eager to claim those spots.
The duels between Anderlecht and Union are interesting for several reasons. A few years ago, Anderlecht welcomed Union’s return to the Jupiler Pro League. In that initial period, the Mauves were often dominant, securing four wins and three draws in eleven encounters. Last season, however, Union managed to claim a victory over their city rivals. Additionally, the issue of “stadium-sharing” for European competitions adds another layer to the rivalry between the clubs.
The last time these two teams met was on September 1 of this season. The match, played at Union’s Joseph Marien Stadium, ended in a goalless draw. Union was clearly the stronger side but failed to convert their chances, resulting in both teams sharing the points.
Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht was founded on May 27, 1908, and is registered with the Belgian Football Association under matricule number 35. The club’s colors are purple and white, and they play their home matches at Lotto Park. RSCA has been competing in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League since 1935. With 34 league titles, Anderlecht is the most successful club in Belgian football history. Their European achievements include two European Cup Winners’ Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and one UEFA Cup.
However, this season has been inconsistent for Anderlecht, with their European campaign already over. The Mauves failed to get past Turkish side Fenerbahçe in the Europa League, despite hopes being kept alive by Luis Vázquez, who scored twice. But an early goal from Youssef En-Nesyri and an equalizer by Yusuf Akcicek made it too difficult for Anderlecht to advance.
Coach David Hubert also has to deal with several absences. Kasper Dolberg, Mario Stroeykens, and Jari Verschaeren are unavailable, and yesterday, Tristan Degreef was also ruled out due to back pain. Fortunately, Anderlecht has a deep squad, with players like Luis Vázquez, Thorgan Hazard, and Anders Dreyer, all capable of delivering standout performances. With such quality, Anderlecht has the potential to make a serious push toward the top.
Union SG
Union Saint-Gilloise was founded in 1897 and holds matricule number 10. The club has played its home matches at the Joseph Marien Stadium since the 1920s. The Unionistes wear yellow and blue and were Belgium’s most successful club before World War II, winning eleven league titles. To this day, only Anderlecht and Club Brugge have won more. Union returned to the top division in 2021 after a 48-year absence.
Union started the season in the Europa League and finished 21st in the newly formatted League Phase, earning a spot in the playoffs. However, they narrowly lost to Dutch side Ajax. It was a close contest, but a controversial handball by Christian Burgess at the wrong moment allowed Kenneth Taylor to secure the victory for Ajax early in extra time.
To achieve such results, a team needs top-quality players—and Union certainly has them. Franjo Ivanovic and Promise David have both been clinical this season, scoring 14 and 12 goals, respectively. Additionally, with defenders like Christian Burgess and Kevin Mac Allister, Union has the potential to form a solid defensive unit.
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