Royale Union SG take on the visitors Anderlecht in the quarterfinal match of Belgian Cup. The match will be played on Thursday, January 25th at Stade Joseph Marien (Brusel).
Royal Union remains among the leaders of Belgian football. In the first part of the last century, Les Unionistes secured numerous championship titles, but their success dwindled in the mid-1930s, leading to an extended period outside the Jupiler Pro League. They managed to make a comeback only in 2021, largely due to the efforts of the new investor, Tony Bloom (the same individual who elevated Brighton in his native England). The newcomer immediately surprised everyone, securing the second spot in the final standings just behind Brugge. Even in the previous season, reaching the Europa League playoffs, the team finished third at their home ground. It seemed that the departure of Gérêts in the summer could have been a setback— the successful coach had a falling out during contract negotiations. However, his replacement, Alexander Blessin, is managing quite well. While the Belgians finished only third in their Europa League group this time, they will compete in the Conference League playoffs (where they immediately faced Eintracht). Nevertheless, they maintain a confident lead on their home turf, defeating Saint-Truiden, albeit with a minimal advantage of 2-1.
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Anderlecht rightfully consider themselves one of the strongest and most successful clubs in their country's history, having won international tournaments such as the Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. However, after their 34th (national record) championship title in 2017, they only managed to secure the Belgian Super Cup in the same year. The grand club finished in 11th place last season, which was no longer particularly shocking. Now, Brian Priske justifies his appointment in Brussels. His team is confidently holding the second position in the current league table, with only Union above them. It's progress, but of course, they aspire for more, especially since the chances for the title remain, especially with points halved before the final bullet. Nevertheless, the 1-1 draw with Leuven was undoubtedly a setback, and a rather painful one, at least for self-assessment.
In February 2021, the Purple and Whites crushed their opponents 5-0 in the cup. However, just six months later, entering the Jupiler Pro League, the newcomer won 3-1 at Constant Vanden Stock. They continued to win in all six subsequent matches, including a 2-0 victory last summer. The hosts are certainly not weaker overall, and the home ground factor is on their side. We recommend betting on Blessin's charges to win in regular time.
Prediction for the match: Royale Union to win.
