Club Brugge and Union St Gilloise will face each other this weekend in what will be one of the deciding matches in who will win the Belgian Pro League title. Defending champions Union will be the home side and currently have a slender one point lead over their Brugge rivals.
So far this season, in the two matches the sides have already played, it has been the home team that has taken victory. Club Brugge travelled to Union at the beginning of February and lost 1-0 thanks to a goal from Algerian midfielder Adem Zorgane. Defeat could really dent their title hopes and would give Union the momentum going into the return leg.
Union are hunting for a second Pro League title as well as a domestic cup. In a few weeks time they will face city rivals Anderlecht in the cup final. That following weekend, they will face Club Brugge. Depending on the result from this weekend, the side could win both the cup and league in the same week.
So far, both sides have won their opening two fixtures in the play-offs, yet neither of their results have been convincing. Union, who are short of strikers thanks to injuries to Promise David and Raul Florucz, beat both Sint Truiden and KV Mechelen 1-0. They have recovered Kevin Rodriguez at least, so his return to fitness and form would be very welcome.
Club Brugge were 3-0 up at half-time against Anderlecht, only to then allow the Mauves back into the game. They eventually won 4-2, but had another scare the following weekend against Sint Truiden. Junya Ito had given the Canaries the lead, with Club Brugge having to come from behind to win 2-1.
Free flowing attacking football is not to be expected in Brussels this weekend. The two sides have been the best in the league based on their efficiency and consistency pulling out victories, not necessarily by how well they have played. It will be a cagey affair, but the atmosphere will be electric given that these two sides have developed a strong rivalry in recent years. If there is a winner, it will likely go a long way to deciding who will end up victorious at the end of the play-offs.
GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson
