The 2021/22 Belgium Jupiler Pro League season continues this weekend and on the 1st of August we have a meeting between Union Saint-Gilloise and Club Brugge at the Stade Joseph Marien.
The hosts begin the weekend sitting second in the table having won their opening fixture of the season while the visitors are in 7th place with a point to their name.
💫 On se régale avec nos trois buts et la victoire à Anderlecht? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qgQcffBJof— Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (@UnionStGilloise) July 27, 2021
💫 On se régale avec nos trois buts et la victoire à Anderlecht? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qgQcffBJof
Union Saint-Gilloise started their season with an away trip to Anderlecht and came away with a great win. Anderlecht are certainly not the team of old but it was still a good victory for Union Saint-Gilloise, who opened the scoring after 20 minutes.
They conceded the equalising goal just before half time but did not allow their heads to drop in the second half, taking the lead in the 62nd minute and extending their advantage 11 minutes later.
It was an important victory for Union Saint-Gilloise, who won promotion from the 2020/21 Belgian First Division B. They have returned to the top level of Belgian football after 48 years having previously been a successful club in the top-flight, winning 11 Belgian Championship titles in the early 1900’s.
Union Saint-Gilloise are 17 league games unbeaten at home but all of those fixtures were played in the First Division B last season. Despite scoring plenty of goals, Union Saint-Gilloise struggled to keep clean sheets towards the end of their league campaign last season.
Club Brugge are the defending Belgian champions having finished 16 points above Antwerp last season in the regular table but level on points with Genk in the final Play-Off I standings.
Club Brugge started the defence of their title with a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against AS Eupen, who finished 12th last season. The score was 0-0 at half-time but Club Brugge opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 56th minute and the hosts appeared well on their way to taking maximum points.
However, AS Eupen had other ideas and struck back quickly to equalise and then took the lead in the 77th minute. Club Brugge did not give up and avoided a shock defeat by scoring the equalising goal in the 90th minute.
That result means Club Brugge are unbeaten in 32 of their last 38 matches in the Jupiler Pro League. Trends show Club Brugge have not lost at half time any of their last 20 away matches in the Jupiler Pro League.
Looking ahead to the team news and Union Saint-Gilloise are likely to name a team close to that which started last weekend. The only change could see Jean Amani come into the starting XI following his goal at Anderlecht.
Club Brugge have a doubt over the fitness of experienced goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet. Bas Dost will continue in attack and hope to add to his goal from the penalty spot last week.
Union Saint-Gilloise will be feeling confident following their victory at Anderlecht last week but this will be a different proposition. Club Brugge will be eager to record their first victory of the season and could come away with maximum points and keep a clean sheet in the process.