The 2023-24 Belgian top flight gets underway on Friday with Union SG playing host to Anderlecht at the Joseph Marien Stadium.
While Union SG finished in third spot in the playoffs last season, Anderlecht failed to make it that far, finishing in 11th place in the regular campaign.
On one of the most dramatic days that Belgian football has ever seen, Genk and Union SG were the teams to miss out as Antwerp dramatically ended their long wait for another Pro League title.
Having finished as runners-up the year before, Union SG had to make do with third position by a point on this occasion, yet that will only have further motivated Les Unionists to finally get their hands on the crown this time around.
Alexander Blessin is now at the helm, the German arriving at Union SG after a disappointing stint with Genoa in 2022, but there will be optimism that he can take the club that extra step further.
Union SG have lost some of their key men, Victor Boniface moving to Bayer Leverkusen after contributing 17 goals and 12 assists in all competitions during 2022-23.
During pre-season, draws were recorded versus Monaco and Feyenoord respectively, potentially an indication that they are ready to hit the ground running.
From Anderlecht’s perspective, they have the task of attempting to get back into the upper echelons of Belgian football after recording their lowest finish since 1937.
Brian Riemer can claim to have restored some pride during the second half of the campaign, yet finishing four points adrift of the playoff spots is something that cannot be repeated.
Anderlecht will hope to build on the form that took them to the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, and a lack of continental football this time around may prove to be a blessing in disguise.
Seeing goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen depart in a big-money deal to Brighton & Hove Albion came as a blow, but the arrival of Kasper Dolberg could be a difference maker if the Denmark international can regain the form from earlier in his career.
Team News
Of the team that started the final day of last season, four players have left Union SG, meaning that there will be a fresh look to the side for their league opener.
Ross Sykes, Charles Vanhoutte, Mathias Rasmussen and Dennis Eckert Ayensa may all be drafted into the starting lineup, the middle two players having arrived from Cercle Brugge and Brann respectively.
Having stormed to a 3-0 victory over Ajax in a friendly last weekend, Anderlecht boss Riemer will be hoping to name the same side from that fixture.
That would see new arrivals Maxime Dupe, Louis Patris and Dolberg all make their competitive debuts between the sticks, at right-back and in attack respectively.
Justin Lonwijk, who has signed on loan from Dynamo Kiev, will also hope to secure game time at some stage.
Union SG possible starting lineup:
Moris; Sykes, Machida, Burgess; Nieuwkoop, Amani, Rasmussen, Vanhoutte, Lapoussin; Adingra, Ayensa
Anderlecht possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Patris, Debast, Vertonghen, N’Diaye; Ashimeru, Diawara, Arnstad; Dreyer, Dolberg, Amuzu
We say: Union SG 2-1 Anderlecht
Anderlecht will be hopeful of making a statement in what will surely be an improved campaign. Nevertheless, despite the changes made in the summer, we expect the visitors to succumb to a Union side that will hope to win the league title this season.
