Cercle Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise Preview & Prediction

When is Cercle Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise on and what time does it start? Cercle Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise will take place on Sunday 24 September, 2023 – 12:30 (UK)

Where can I get tickets for Cercle Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise? Visit each team’s official website for the latest ticket information

Where can I watch Cercle Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise in the UK? Cercle Brugge vs Union Saint-Gilloise will not be televised live and cannot be streamed in the UK

THE LOWDOWN

CERCLE BRUGGE

After finishing in the top eight and the European playoff places last season, Cercle Brugge will be hoping to build upon that and even try and squeeze themselves into the top six for the end of the regular season. Since the appointment of Miron Muslic, they have steadily improved and will hope that growth continues.

They come into this on the back of a 2-1 defeat away to newly-promoted Racing Daring White Molenbeek, though. That loss came after a very strong start to the season in which they had enjoyed four victories and two defeats in their opening six matches. They do remain inside the top four ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.

UNION SAINT-GILLOISE

As an affiliate club of Brighton and Hove Albion, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise are regularly able to replenish their squad after it has been ravaged. From losing Kaoru Mitoma and Deniz Undav in 2022 and then Simon Adingra and Victor Boniface in 2023. Union SG are back again towards the top-of-the-table in the Jupiler Pro League.

They come into this on the back of sharing a 1-1 draw with Toulouse in the opening match of their UEFA Europa League group stage campaign. Domestically they began in magnificent form but have tailed off slightly and that draw with Toulouse does actually mean they have now managed just two wins in their last six matches in all competitions with both of those coming against Lugano.

THE TEAM NEWS

CERCLE BRUGGE

Miron Muslic has pretty much a fully fit and available squad for this weekend but he will be without Abu Francis, who is missing for this weekend due to injury.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Warleson; Popovic, Ravych, Daland; Siquet, Lopes, Van der Bruggen, Semedo; Somers, Minda; Denkey

UNAVAILABLE: Francis (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE:

UNION SAINT-GILLOISE

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise have a deep squad but they do have a couple of injury concerns with key defender Koji Machida missing from this weekend’s encounter.

PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Moris; Mac Allister, Burgess, Leysen; Castro-Montes, Sadiki, Vanhoutte, Lapoussin; Amani, Puertas; Eckert

UNAVAILABLE: Machida (Injured)

QUESTIONABLE: Francois (Injured)

THE PREDICTION

This one could well be quite an entertaining encounter for the neutral at the Jan Breydel Stadion. Cercle Brugge will hope to do as Union SG do and punch above their weight towards the top end of the table. They have started the season relatively impressively, albeit slightly too steadily for what they want. Union SG were excellent at the start of this year but will be a little concerned about their drop off in the last month or so. Both teams scoring seems a good bet for this one.