Dillan George
Dailysports's expert
Union Saint-Gilloise
Ajax
Bonus up to $130/€100
On Thursday, February 13, in the first leg of the Europa League playoff round, Union Saint-Gilloise will host Ajax. The match kicks off at 18:45 CET. My betting prediction is focused on goals in this match.
Interesting facts and head-to-head history
- Union Saint-Gilloise has won six of their last seven matches across all competitions.
- Ajax has won just two of their last five away games.
- Union Saint-Gilloise is unbeaten in their last 10 home matches.
- This will be the first-ever meeting between these teams.
Match Preview
Union Saint-Gilloise is having a fantastic season. The Yellow and Blues are among the top teams in the Belgian Pro League and remain in the title race. They currently sit third, 11 points behind leaders Genk. However, in Belgium, points are halved after the regular season, meaning even such a gap can be overturned in the championship round.
In the Belgian Pro League, Union Saint-Gilloise is on a six-match winning streak. Over the weekend, Sébastien Pocognoli’s side defeated Kortrijk (2-1), following victories against Sint-Truiden (2-1) and Beerschot (4-0).
Union started the Europa League campaign poorly but managed a strong finish in the last four rounds, securing wins over Twente (1-0), Nice (2-1), and Braga (2-1). With 11 points, they finished 21st in the overall league table, securing a playoff spot.
After a disastrous 2022/23 season, Francesco Farioli has revived Ajax. The Italian coach, a former assistant to Roberto De Zerbi, who also impressed at Nice, has brought Ajax back into the Eredivisie title race.
Ajax currently leads the league with 51 points, the same as PSV, but the Amsterdam club has a game in hand.
Last weekend, Ajax defeated Fortuna Sittard 2-0 away, following a crucial 2-1 win over Feyenoord. The Dutch giants are on a six-match winning streak in the Eredivisie.
In the Europa League, Ajax was on track to finish in the top eight, but a shock defeat to Latvian side RFS in Matchday 7 ruined their chances. They recovered by beating Galatasaray 2-1 in their final league-stage match, finishing 12th with 13 points.
Probable Lineups
- Union Saint-Gilloise: Moris; Mac Allister, Burgess, Leysen; Halaïli, Vanhoutte, Van der Perre, Sadiki, Machida; Promes, Ivanovic.
- Ajax: Pasveer; Gaaei, Šutalo, Baas, Hato; Klaassen, Henderson, Taylor; Traoré, Brobbey, Berghuis.
Prediction for Union Saint-Gilloise vs Ajax
Both Union Saint-Gilloise and Ajax are in great form, particularly in attack. I expect both teams to score in this match.
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