Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht

Anderlecht have an opportunity to gain revenge on Union Saint-Gilloise following a dreadful 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture back in the first half of the 2021/22 Belgium 1st Division A campaign.

Union Saint-Gilloise have taken the Belgium 1st Division A by storm in their first top-flight campaign in 48 years, as they head into proceedings harbouring a substantial nine-point lead at the summit. In addition to boasting the league-high 71% win ratio (GP24 – W17, D3, L4), the hosts are unbeaten in their last eight Division A fixtures on the trot (W6, D2), keeping five clean sheets in the process. Union SG’s tally of 21 goals conceded from 24 league matches is a comfortable league-best so far, though it’s worth noting that a majority (57%) of those goals have come at home. Connoisseurs of action-packed football will want to wait for late in the second half to watch a spectacle, with 58.33% of Union SG’s home league matches this term featuring a goal beyond the 75th minute (7/12).

On the other hand, an underwhelming 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Cercle Brugge last time out halted Anderlecht’s run of nine league games without losing (W6, D3). With fourth-placed Charleroi breathing down their necks, the visitors will be desperate to return to winning ways here and maintain a two-point lead over the last Conference League play-off spot. And there’s a reason for optimism in the travelling camp, as the ‘Purple & White’ have racked up four wins in their five Division A away fixtures (D1) since succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at Antwerp in early November, notably scoring 2+ goals in all but one of those matches. It’s also worth mentioning that Anderlecht cruised to a comprehensive 5-0 win in their last competitive away H2H back in February 2021.