Preview: Royal Antwerp vs Union SG - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Belgian Pro League clash between Royal Antwerp and Union SG, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

In their opening game of the 2024-25 Belgium Pro League season, Royal Antwerp will welcome Union SG to Bosuilstadion on Friday.

The clash will be Antwerp coach Stef Wils’s first match in charge of the club after being promoted from an assistant role, while Union SG enter the new campaign as champions after finishing first in the championship playoff group despite placing third in the regular season.

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Match preview

Jonas De Roeck was sacked as Antwerp boss in March – lasting less than a year in the dugout – with the club’s tally of 48 points in the regular season six fewer than they totalled in 2023-24.

Wils inherits a side that conceded 50 goals in 40 league games, with 18 of those conceded in their 10 championship playoff matches.

The Reds played Union four times in the top flight last term, and while they won their first encounter 2-0 in September 2024, they were beaten in their three subsequent clashes.

Antwerp ended 2024-25 having lost three, drawn one and won one of their final four outings, scoring six while conceding on 10 occasions.

Supporters will hope for an improvement at home considering the hosts failed to achieve victory in any of their last eight competitive fixtures at Bosuilstadion, suffering seven defeats in that time.

Union’s title win was their 12th league crown but was the first time they had finished first in the top flight since 1934-35.

The champions missed out on the opportunity to win the Belgian Super Cup for the first time in their history when they lost 2-1 against Club Brugge on July 20.

Les Unionistes averaged 1.8 goals per game last season in the league – the second-best record in the top flight – but the figure was lower than they averaged in 2023-24 (two per 90).

Sebastien Pocognoli's side ended their title-winning campaign in fine form, emerging as victors in nine of their final 10 games while settling for a stalemate once.

The club also won their last five away fixtures of 2024-25, and they managed to keep four clean sheets in that period.

Royal Antwerp friendly form:

Union SG form (all competitions):

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Team News

Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but he is still set to play on Friday.

The shot-stopper may be shielded by centre-backs Zeno Van Den Bosch and Bjorn Engels, while Mahamadou Doumbia and Dennis Praet are likely to start in midfield.

Union could deploy a front two consisting of Franjo Ivanovic and Kevin Rodriguez, with attacking midfielder Anouar Ait El Hadj playing in a supportive role.

Charles Vanhoutte and Kamiel Van De Perre featured in a double pivot last time out, and they will hope to retain their places in the starting XI.

Union utilised a back three against Club Brugge, and if they use three centre-backs on Friday, Kevin Mac Allister, Christian Burgess and Fedde Leysen can be expected to be named in the lineup.

Royal Antwerp possible starting lineup:

Lammens; Renders, Van Den Bosch, Engels, Corbanie; Doumbia, Praet; Somers, Balikwisha, Kerk; Bayo

Union SG possible starting lineup:

Chambaere; Mac Allister, Burgess, Leysen; Castro-Montes, Van De Vanhoutte, Perre, Niang; El Hadj; Ivanovic, Rodríguez

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We say: Royal Antwerp 0-2 Union SG

 

Antwerp should not be expected to come away with any points against Union considering their poor record against their opponents.

The champions will want to bounce back from their Super Cup defeat, and they will likely start their title defence in strong fashion.

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