Standard Liege (home)
- Standard’s form has been mixed with Vincent Euvrard’s side winning two and losing three of their last five in the First Division A (D1).
- Their 0-4 home defeat to KAA Gent was followed up by a 2-0 away win over RSC Anderlecht before they were defeated 3-0 by champions Club Brugge KV.
- The hosts prefer a more structured style of play, where the team are rigid in the positions they occupy and look to create chances by being more astute in transitions, especially set pieces.
- Rafiki Said is Standard’s top scorer with just four goals in 21 appearances this season, but he often plays as the spark of their attacks with his directness and power.
- Recent home stats:
- Standard have won just four of their 12 home matches in the First Division A so far (D3, L5).
Union St.-Gilloise (away)
- Union St.-Gilloise will face a tricky test of their title credentials when they travel to the Stade Maurice Dufrasne to face Standard Liege on Saturday.
- The visitors have been in blistering form since David Hubert took charge and his tactical ingenuity and knack for putting his players in the right positions has turned this team into one of the most feared in Belgium.
- Union’s 3-4-1-2 system is full of attacking quality, especially with their wing-backs driving forward, and they are more than able to handle the ball in wide areas and in midfield.
- However, their trademark is the ability to play vertical soccer with great intensity and the ability to win possession back quickly when they lose it.
- Union will be in good spirits heading into this clash as they have won their last three league matches, including a 1-0 victory over Club Brugge KV and a 2-1 comeback victory over RAAL La Louviere.
Head-to-Head
- St.-Gilloise have won four of their last five meetings with Standard in the First Division A, drawing the other.
- They trounced them 3-0 at home five months ago.
- Standard Liege have failed to win their last two home matches in the league against Union St.-Gilloise.
Key Players
- Standard:Rafiki Said - top scorer and the spark of their attacks.
- Union: Wing-backs - drive the team’s attacking quality in the 3-4-1-2 system.
Betting Insights
- Backing the Over 2.5 goals option looks a good way to make money on this game at 2.2 in the 90 minutes odds.
- However, Union’s form, their recent dominance of this fixture and their extra attacking edge should see them prevail again, which is why the 1.75 odds on the road team is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Prediction
- Union’s form, their recent dominance of this fixture and their extra attacking edge should see them prevail again.
- Standard will be desperate to win and keep their playoff push on track.
