We’re heading toward another exciting Jupiler Pro League campaign and Union Saint-Gilloise will be hoping to build on second and third-place finishes this season. We’ve previewed the upcoming season, with Union currently fourth in the football odds to claim the title.
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Jupiler Pro League: USG Season Preview
Victory on the final day last season would have seen Union lift the trophy in dramatic fashion. However, they fell just short, losing 3-1 after conceding three late goals. It was a disappointing end to the season for a USG side that went from strength to strength, and things could have been very different had they not failed to win in their final three matches.
As is the case when a team is adept in scouting, Saint-Gilloise will begin the season with a depleted squad after losing some key players. Simon Adingra has returned to Brighton following his loan, while star man Teddy Teuma has moved to Stade Reims on a permanent transfer.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Saint-Gilloise since their return to the top flight, they know how to recruit. They will no doubt be scouring the transfer market in the coming weeks to ensure they have the best chance at fighting back at the top come the end of next season.
USG: Key Players
They might have lost Adingra, but Victor Boniface is another player they will place high hopes on. In his first season in Belgium, the Nigerian centre-forward scored 9 goals and registered 8 assists in 37 league appearances. It was the most successful individual campaign of the 22-year-old’s young career and he will likely go up another gear.
The loss of Ismael Kandouss means defender Christian Burgess will play an even more crucial role at the heart of Union’s defence. The Englishman was a rock last season, featuring in 51 games across all competitions, chipping in with five important goals. His organisation and leadership qualities cannot be overlooked in the middle of their backline, and whether or not Saint-Gilloise challenge for the title could be largely down to his fitness and form.
Jupiler Pro League: USG Season Predictions
We expect Union to be back battling at the top this season, but we think they’ll fall just short once more. They don’t have the spending power to compete with the likes of Club Brugge and Genk, while champions Antwerp are also likely to come back stronger with reinforcements. Not to mention the ever-improving Gent, and an Anderlecht side that should be back with a vengeance after performing terribly last campaign.
Our prediction is a third-place finish. We can see Club Brugge and Antwerp finishing ahead of them, while Genk could struggle if their promising side is picked apart by bigger European clubs. Another top four finish would certainly be a success, and who knows, maybe they can make waves on the European stage.
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