Champions League
2025-10-01 - Union Saint-Gilloise vs Newcastle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Wednesday 1st October 2025 - Kick Off 5:45pm
This game is live on TV
Union Saint-Gilloise
The Tony Bloom Football story will always be heavily linked with his home town Club in Brighton, but for fans in Belgium, it is his investment with Union Saint-Gilloise that will be the lead story. It has seen a remarkable resurgence at a historic club and Union Saint-Gilloise finally won the Belgium Title in 2025, the first time since 1935.
They won three titles in a row between 1933 and 1935, but Union Saint-Gilloise had faded behind the likes of Club Brugge and Anderlecht domestically. Now they enter the Champions League as Belgian title holders having previously been beaten in the Qualifying Rounds of the competition, and Union Saint-Gilloise have made it clear they want to make an impact at this level after winning 1-3 at PSV Eindhoven on Match Day 1 of the League Phase. The side had been unbeaten in 4 home European games last season before losing to another Dutch Club, Ajax, in the Europa League Knock Out Rounds.
Union Saint-Gilloise have won 8 of their last 9 games in all competitions, including the last 5 in a row. They did lose the Super Cup at home, but that has not prevented Union Saint-Gilloise from winning the last 4 fixtures in a row in front of the home fans.
Kevin Rodriguez is hoping to shake off a knock and take his place in the starting lineup for this fixture.
Newcastle United
They were minutes away from beating Arsenal yet again at St James' Park, but the final six minutes saw the lead slip away and Eddie Howe's team ultimately suffered another home defeat. It has not been the most consistent start to the season for Newcastle United and the squad is going to be tested by being involved in the Champions League and the additional games that need to be completed in the League Phase.
A battling performance saw Newcastle United come up short against Barcelona on Match Day 1 of the competition, but there is plenty of time to turn things back around. The target has to be making it through to the Knock Out Rounds and that means finishing in the top twenty-four of this big League table, although there is some pressure on Newcastle United to bounce back immediately from the opening defeat.
Newcastle United have won 1 of their last 4 games in all competitions and that was against League One Bradford City in a home tie in the League Cup Third Round. Going back to last season, Newcastle United have not won any of their last 6 away games in all competitions, while all 3 away Premier League games have finished goalless this season.
Timo Livramento is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a serious looking injury on Sunday. Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa are both set to miss out.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between these two Clubs.
Prediction
There is no doubting that there is a significant gap between the Belgian and English top Divisions and that looks to be the main reason Newcastle United are favourites to win this game at the home of Belgian Champions Union Saint-Gilloise.
Losing Alexander Isak has clearly hurt, but Newcastle United have shown plenty of defensive resiliency and came very close to upsetting Arsenal on Sunday.
They have also kept three away clean sheets to open the season, although Newcastle United have not won any of those matches, and this looks another significant test for a team that is perhaps lacking some European experience.
Union Saint-Gilloise have already bared their teeth in the League Phase of this competition with an impressive 1-3 win at PSV Eindhoven.
Tony Bloom's investment has made them regular challengers domestically, but Union Saint-Gilloise are still working on the next step of improving in European competition. They did make it out of the Europa League Group last season, but Union Saint-Gilloise were beaten 0-2 here by Ajax in the Knock Out Rounds and they will appreciate the quality that Newcastle United have in the final third.
However, Union Saint-Gilloise have been very tough to beat at home in recent weeks and there may be enough about them to earn a positive result. That won't come easy, but this Newcastle United team are still finding their feet without Alexander Isak and the home team can do enough to earn a point, which will keep them firmly on track for a top 24 finish.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 Newcastle United
