Union Saint-Gilloise vs Charleroi Predictions

• Union Saint-Gilloise hammered Charleroi 4-0 and 3-0 in their two league meetings last term.
• The hosts, runners-up in the Belgian top flight last season, won 10 of their 17 regular-season home matches in 2021-22.
• Union SG also went unbeaten throughout pre-season, thrashing Feyenoord 4-0 two weeks ago.
• The visitors have won just once in their last five away league games, losing three.

21-22 runners-up set to kick-start season

Union Saint-Gilloise provided one of the stories of European football last term as they came agonisingly close to winning the Belgian top flight after a 48-year absence from the country’s top table, only for a run of one win in their final five games to see Club Brugge finish top. While another bid for silverware is not expected this term, the hosts will hope to kick-start their new campaign on Friday.

Indeed, Union SG regrouped from a disappointing end to 2021-22 to go unbeaten throughout pre-season, recording a crushing 4-0 win of Europa Conference League finalists Feyenoord before opening their league campaign with a draw at Sint-Truiden. Having won 10 of their 17 regular-season home games last term, Union will hope for a similar record under new boss Karel Geraerts.

Charleroi, meanwhile, ended last season in sixth position before starting the new campaign with a 3-1 win over likely strugglers Eupen. Charleroi are out for revenge after losing 4-0 and 3-0 to the hosts last term, but a record of just one win in their last five road trips, three of which were defeats, must improve.

Union SG can make home advantage count

Given their excellent home form last term as well as their strong recent head-to-head record against Charleroi, backing the hosts for victory looks prudent, with Union having kept much of last season’s squad together over the summer.

Meanwhile, each of Charleroi’s last six games have contained goals at both ends, making a 2-1 home win a strong correct score prediction.

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