What can Newcastle fans expect form unbeaten Union St Gilloise in the Champions League? | OneFootball

Newcastle United will be the first side that Belgian champions Union St Gilloise face at ‘home’ in the Champions League. The Brussels side began their Champions League campaign away at PSV Eindhoven and ran out convincing winners by a score line of 3-1. Newcastle had a tricky start as well, losing 2-1 at home to Barcelona. On paper at least, the Magpies may well see Union St Gilloise as an easy side to face in this years competition. However, the Belgian champions should not be underestimated. Over the past few years they have continued to defy the odds and find their feet at higher levels year on year. Their debut Champions League performance suggests that they will not roll over for anyone in this years competition.

Under Sebastien Pocognoli, Union St Gilloise have picked up where they left off last season. After securing a 12th Belgian title, the first since 1935, the side have started the season unbeaten. In the Pro League they have won seven of their opening nine games, with two draws. The side have a league best 19 goals scored and only four goals conceded. To put that into context, the next best defence in the league in KV Mechelen with eight goals conceded. Led by the likes of the veteran Christian Burgess at the back, Union St Gilloise have had a steely defence in recent years. Burgess is joined by the excellent Kevin Mac Allister, and the Argentine loves to defend. He will certainly be up for a scrap with Newcastle’s forwards on Wednesday evening.

Further forward, Adem Zorgane’s summer move from Charleroi has gone better than most would have anticipated. The Algerian was exceptional in his Champions League debut and already has one goal and two assists in 11 games so far this season. The wide options of Ousseynou Niang and Anan Khalaili will keep Newcastle’s full-backs honest with their willingness to get in behind and track back.

Depending on how Pocognoli wants to approach the game, he may well go with the two ‘big men’ up top against a physical Newcastle defence. Dan Burn will likely relish the tussle with Promise David, while if fit Kevin Rodriuez adds another physical presence that was too much for the PSV defence to handle. Between them the strikers have scored nine goals this season. Anouar Ait El Hadj was another x factor in the victory over PSV in match week one, but the 23-year-old former Genk and Anderlecht man missed the weekend victory over Westerlo.

Newcastle will certainly be favourites for the game at Lotto Park on Wednesday night. However, Eddie Howe will need to prepare his side to face a Union St Gilloise side that won’t overly respect their Premier League opponents. Pocognoli and co have now instilled a winning mentality into the squad and they will go into the game with every belief that they can provide another shock result.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson