On Sunday, August 31, another thrilling Brussels derby is on the agenda. This time, Union Saint-Gilloise and Anderlecht face off at the Joseph Marien Stadium. The rivalry between these two clubs has only intensified in recent years, and at the start of this season, both teams will be eager to prove themselves as quickly as possible. Read all about it in this article.
Brussels Derby
The clashes between Union and Anderlecht are fascinating for several reasons. A few years ago, Anderlecht fans welcomed Union’s return to the Jupiler Pro League. During that initial period, the Mauves were often dominant, with a total of four victories and three draws in eleven encounters. But that balance of power has gradually leveled out, giving both teams a real shot at victory nowadays. The issue of stadium sharing for European competitions has also added fuel to the rivalry.
The last time the two sides met was on February 23. At Lotto Park, Union claimed a 0-2 victory. Those three points proved crucial in Union’s title race. Once again, it highlighted how decisive these derbies can be—both in the league standings and in the battle for pride.
Union SG
Union Saint-Gilloise was founded in 1897 and is registered with club number 10. Since the 1920s, the club has played its home matches at the Joseph Marien Stadium. Their traditional colors are yellow and blue. Before World War II, Union was the most successful Belgian club, lifting the national title twelve times. To this day, only Anderlecht and Club Brugge have won more.
After a 48-year absence, Union returned to the top flight in 2021. Last season, they participated in the Europa League, finishing 21st in the new League Phase. That was enough for a spot in the play-offs, where Dutch giants Ajax proved too strong. Domestically, Union fared better: after a thrilling title race, especially against Club Brugge, it was the Brussels side that ultimately raised the trophy.
This year, Union again looks well-prepared. After five matches, the Unionistes have already collected 11 points—just two fewer than leaders STVV. Coach Sébastien Pocognoli has stated that his team has made another step forward. Although key players like Noah Sadiki, Koki Machida, and Dennis Eckert Ayensa have departed, Union has brought in fresh names and still has room to experiment.
A priority this summer was finding a new goalkeeper, as Anthony Moris left after five seasons in Brussels to join Al-Khaleej in Saudi Arabia. His replacement, Dutchman Kjell Scherpen, has immediately impressed by keeping two consecutive clean sheets for Union.
RSC Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht was founded on May 27, 1908, and is affiliated with the Belgian FA under club number 35. Their traditional colors are purple and white, and their home games are played at Lotto Park. Anderlecht has been part of the Belgian top division since 1935 and has won a record 34 national titles—more than any other club in the country. On the European stage, Anderlecht also boasts an impressive record: two Cup Winners’ Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, and one UEFA Cup.
Last season, however, was inconsistent. The Mauves’ European journey ended early after failing to get past Turkish side Fenerbahçe in the Europa League. They also missed out on the Belgian Cup, and in the Jupiler Pro League they had to settle for 4th place. Plenty of reasons, then, for Anderlecht to aim higher this year. In the Conference League, they still need to fight for a group-stage ticket, but domestically they remain near the top with nine points so far.
Coach Besnik Hasi had to deal with some significant departures this summer. Veteran defender Jan Vertonghen retired, while the loan spells of Leander Dendoncker and Samuel Edozie came to an end. Still, Anderlecht managed to strengthen their squad with new signings such as Adriano Bertaccini, Nathan Dylan-Saliba, and Ilay Camara.
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