Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
Union Saint-Gilloise will host one of the strugglers from Matchday 1 of the Champions League league phase, Newcastle United. That comes with the caveat that they did not have to face Barcelona.
Union Saint-Gilloise
Union Saint-Gilloise only had to travel to the neighbouring Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven (3:1). The result owed much to their bold approach (xG 3.34) and accuracy: of 18 attempts, 8 were shots on target, with roughly one in every six shots yielding a goal. Since lifting the Belgian Super Cup, the team are unbeaten in 10 matches, with eight wins. In the domestic league, Union Saint-Gilloise lead by six points.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United face sterner competition both in the English Premier League and in Europe. In the English Premier League the squad have only one win from six matches — against Wolverhampton Wanderers (1:0) — and sit 15th in the standings. In the Champions League, the team had to take on Barcelona (1:2), where Marcus Rashford scored twice, and Newcastle United found themselves in a fierce contest.
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Newcastle United Prediction
Newcastle United last faced Club Brugge KV in the 2012 UEFA Europa League group stage. The club took four points from six — a 1:0 home win and a 2:2 draw away. These teams have not met, as Union Saint-Gilloise have been competing in Europe only since 2022. This match could go in several directions, and the Belgians could spring a surprise.
