Antwerp vs Union Saint Gilloise Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

18:45
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Bosuilstadion

Antwerp

Union Saint Gilloise

Union Saint Gilloise to Win

Reason for tip

Union Saint-Gilloise lost the Belgian Super Cup to Club Brugge last weekend, but remain much stronger on paper than their hosts. Antwerp have lost some key players over the summer and have put an inexperienced coach in charge. They will do well to avoid defeat against a side that won the last two meetings of the clubs 5-1 and 4-0.

11/10odds when tipped

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Union Saint Gilloise 1-0

Reason for tip

Antwerp finished last season with two wins, three draws and five defeats in the playoffs. They failed to score in six of their last 13 league games and with no new striker bought, look unlikely to trouble Union’s defence. There was not much cutting edge about the champions against Club Brugge, but they should have the firepower to win 1-0.

8/1odds when tipped

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Franjo Ivanovic To Score Anytime

Reason for tip

Franjo Ivanovic is a classy finisher and proved it with a great strike against Club Brugge last weekend. The Croatian hitman scored in his last two league appearances of 2024-25, including in the 4-0 rout of Antwerp.

6/4odds when tipped

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Union Saint-Gilloise lost the Belgian Super Cup to Club Brugge last weekend
Antwerp have lost some key players over the summer and have put an inexperienced coach in charge
Union won the last two meetings of the clubs 5-1 and 4-0

Champions open title defence in Antwerp

Antwerp face reigning champions Union Saint-Gilloise in the opening match of the Belgian First Division A on Friday and might find themselves facing a backlash. Union lost the Belgian Super Cup to Club Brugge last weekend and will be determined to put a few things right as they begin the defence of the title at Bosuil.

Sebastien Pocognoli’s men led through star striker Franjo Ivanovic’s strike before Club Brugge hit back with two further first-half goals. And, despite dominating possession in the second half, Union were unable to recover.

The coach was pretty happy with what he saw performance-wise from his team, but they lacked a bit of a cutting edge. And that issue could get worse for him if the rumours around Ivanovic leaving for a big fee come to fruition.

Great Old lack experience

But, assuming the Croatian is available for Friday’s match, the Brussels-based club should have enough firepower to get three points against an Antwerp side in decline. Since famously snatching the title on the final day of the season in 2022-23, Great Old have finished sixth and fifth.

They sold striker Tjaronn Cherry Antwerp in the summer while Denis Odoi decided to leave the club and Toby Alderweireld has retired. On top of all these losses of crucial experience, there’s the terrible case of Jelle Bataille — the crowd favorite who was released.

Stef Wils was promoted from assistant to replace the former coach, who was a promoted ex-assistant himself, and there is very little top-level managerial experience in the dugout. Very little has been invested in a squad that struggled in the playoffs, winning only two and losing five of the 10 games. Union SG look too good for the hosts on paper and one goal may suffice for them to claim victory.