Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the pivotal clashes of the 10th round in the Belgian Pro League Championship Playoff will take place this Sunday at the Joseph Marien Stadium, where the home side Union will face Gent. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this encounter at a solid value.
Match preview
Heading into the final round of the season, Union has come within touching distance of a long-awaited league title. Sébastien Pocognoli’s squad has delivered a near-flawless Championship Playoff: eight wins in nine matches, no defeats, and just two goals conceded. Their confident form and rock-solid defense make Saint-Gilloise a worthy title contender.
The last matchday presents Union with a golden chance to finish the season on a high note—they simply need to beat a disjointed Gent. Considering their emphatic 4-0 win over Antwerp last round, along with strong motivation and the home crowd advantage, the favorite in this matchup is clear. The team is at the peak of its form, and dropping points now would be unthinkable.
Gent has been the biggest disappointment of the championship group, losing eight out of nine matches and conceding a staggering 29 goals. Their attack has been completely ineffective—just three goals scored in the entire playoff. A goal difference of 3:29 speaks volumes about the team’s current state.
Last round, the Buffaloes once again looked lifeless and powerless, falling 1-4 to Genk. Daniel Milicevic’s side has completely lost motivation and is just going through the motions in the final rounds. Against a well-organized and fired-up Union, Gent has neither the tactical nor the psychological tools to compete.
Probable lineups
- Union: Moris, Mac Allister, Burgess, Machida, Halaïli, Sadiki, Vanhout, Van de Perre, Niang, Ivanovic, David
- Gent: Roef – De Meyer, Watanabe, Araujo – Sonko, Ito, Da Silva, Brown – Delorge, Goor, Sardes
Match facts & head-to-head
- Union is unbeaten against Gent in their last 10 meetings (6 wins, 4 draws).
- This season, Saint-Gilloise has beaten Gent in 3 out of 4 matches, with the other ending in a draw.
- Union has kept a clean sheet in their last 5 matches against Gent.
Prediction
Union has it all—motivation, form, quality, fan support, and a history of success against Gent. Meanwhile, the visitors are simply seeing out the season and playing their worst football of the championship group. Our pick is “Union to win with a -1.5 handicap” at odds of 1.60.
