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Union SG - Club: the Club Facts

Jupiler Pro League

After the historic European qualification in Greece, today we return to a top domestic duel, moving to the capital. Union - Club is the duel between numbers 2 and 4 in the standings, but the difference is barely two points. Read all about the duel in the Club Facts!

The match

The match against Union will already be the 55th match of the season. The next eight days will see three crucial games in the Champions' Play-Offs, including the duel against KRC Genk. After three games at Jan Breydel (Cercle away, RSCA and Antwerp at home), Club will play these playoffs for the first time not at Jan Breydel.

It is the 92nd time both teams have faced each other. In the last 46 away matches, Club won there 12 times, drew 7 times and lost 27 times. The previous two editions of the Play-Offs saw Blauw-Zwart go on to win twice at Duden Park.

This season, the top teams met four times before: twice in the league (2-1 loss and 1-1 draw) and twice in the cup (2-1 win and 2-0 loss).

After the midweek match against PAOK, Nicky Hayen recuperates three players: Mechele, top shooter Thiago (16 goals) and assist king De Cuyper (7 assists). Onyedika is out due to suspension.

The opponent

Union Saint-Gilloise is our opponent on matchday 4. The capitalists had an unfortunate start with 0/9, but if they win, they can hoist themselves to the lead again.

It is the first time since their promotion that Union lost three in a row. The three defeats in the Play-Offs are also already more than in the regular league, when it lost only twice in 30 games.

With their team, Amoura (17 goals) and Puertas (14 assists, best in the JPL) are still the players with the best statistics.

In the Champions' Play-Offs, Union already swallowed six goals against and in the last 15 they kept the zero only twice.

Milestones

  • Éder Balanta can be in action for the 140th time at Blue-Black.
  • Antonio Nusa, who celebrated his 19th birthday this week, can play his 75th match for Club.
  • Joel Ordóñez, celebrating his birthday today, can play his 25th match for Club.
  • For Chemsdine Talbi, it could be the 10th match at FCB.
  • Hans Vanaken can play his 330th league match for Club.
  • Igor Thiago can play for the 30th time in the Jupiler Pro League with Blauw-Zwart.
  • Maxim De Cuyper can play his 70th match in First Division (39 for Westerlo, 30 for Club)

The referee

Referee today is Mr. Jasper Vergoote. He is assisted by linesmen Michael Geerolf and Martijn Tiesters. Ken Vermeiren is fourth official.

In Tubize, Lawrence Visser takes his place behind the scenes. He is assisted in his task as VAR by Thibaud Nijssen and Mario Vanlommel.

It is the twelfth time the 32-year-old ref will lead an official match of Club Brugge. Club's eight previous away matches under his direction ended in four wins and four defeats. Vergoote whistled Union's official match 20 times before. 12 of those were at Forest (7W 1D 4L).

Earlier this season, he already whistled both league matches between the teams:

Union 2 - 1 Club on 5/11/2023

Club 1 - 1 Union on 26/12/2023