Union Saint-Gilloise vs Anderlecht (First Division A)
🏟
Sunday 30th January – 12:30PM KO
The first game on Sunday is a rare occurrence in Belgian football’s top-flight, a Brussels derby. Union have been away from the top-flight for 48 years prior to this season, but they’ve made up for lost time and then some, currently leading the league by nine points from Club Brugge. Anderlecht sit three points further back, in fourth position, the final championship play-off position. Having faced second-placed Club Brugge and held them to a 0-0 draw, Union will be hoping to navigate another tricky fixture against their city rivals, and retain their huge lead as the end of the regular season fast approaches.
Union have taken 10 points from the last 12 available at home, and have scored in 13 of their last 15 league games, scoring at least twice in 12 of these matches. They have also kept clean sheets in eight of these fixtures, the only side in the division to prevent their opponents scoring in over half of the games during this period. Unbeaten in eight matches now, having lost just once in their last 15, and dropping only seven points from 45 available shows just how dominant they have been on their return to the top table of Belgian football.
Anderlecht’s form has stuttered somewhat since the resumption of the league, taking just four points from nine. They were beaten 2-0 by Cercle Brugge at home in their last game, although they did have to play the majority of the game with 10 men, and Cercle are the form team in the division right now. Having been in free-scoring form before the league paused for the Christmas period, they have scored just two goals in three games, and having looked set to take the fight to Union in the latter stages of the season, they will now be more concerned with keeping themselves in the top-four, and qualifying for the championship play-off.
A draw would suit both teams here, and though Union will certainly be hoping to take all three points, they may choose to settle rather than risk a defeat. A win for Anderlecht would be something of a turn up for the books, and doesn’t look especially likely right now, which is why I am confident in predicting Union to either win or secure a draw in this one.
⚽
Prediction: Double Chance – Union St-Gilloise, 1.4 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Gent vs Antwerp (First Division A)
🏟
Sunday 30th January – 3:00PM KO
Mid-afternoon takes us to the city of Ghent, where third-placed Antwerp make the trek to the Ghemlaco Arena. Gent currently sit in sixth place, five points behind Anderlecht in fourth, and will go above Charleroi and back into fifth with a win. Antwerp are a point behind Club Brugge, although they do have a game in-hand, which could take them seven points behind the leaders should they win. The two sides are fifth and sixth in the form table, with Antwerp taking 11 points from 18 and Gent just a point further back with 10 from 18. It is difficult to call which way this game will go, as the teams are reasonably evenly matched, however I do predict this match will see goals.
Gent have seen Both Teams to Score land in four of their last five home games, and have only failed to score in front of their own fans just once all season long. They have recorded the second-highest xG per game this season, coming in at 1.87 expected goals, behind only Club Brugge. However, they have only been able to keep three clean sheets at home in twelve games, so despite their threat going forwards they have been unable to keep teams away from their own net.
Visitors Antwerp have scored in every away game they have played in this season, but like Gent have kept only three clean sheets. They may have one of the best defensive records in the league, but their xG against suggests that they have been riding their luck somewhat, being the fifth-highest in the league. On average teams create 1.68 xG per 90 minutes when playing against Antwerp. They have seen both teams to score land in eight of their eleven away fixtures this season, matching Gent’s home record.
A defence that concedes plenty of high-quality chances versus an attack that creates lots of high-quality chances would suggest at least a goal for Gent is likely. Meanwhile Antwerp have one of the best attacks in the league, and with 18-goal striker and joint-top scorer Michael Frey in the side, Gent will know keeping them out for a full 90 minutes will be extremely difficult.
⚽
Prediction: Both Teams to Score – Yes, 1.73 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Standard Liege vs KV Mechelen (First Division A)
🏟
Sunday 30th January – 5:30PM KO
The final game of Sunday that I’ll be looking at in the top-flight of Belgian football is a mid-table clash between Standard Liege and KV Mechelen. De Kakkers make the trip to Liege knowing that they have been forced out of the play-off positions for the first time in months. Cercle Brugge’s form has pushed them into the upper reaches of the table, although Mechelen’s two games in hand on most of the teams around them could see them spring up the table from ninth to sixth should they win them both. Liege meanwhile have had some positive results lately and will be hopeful of building on this and repeating the success of Cercle.
The hosts have seen both teams to score land in an impressive 12 of their last 15 games, a mark that nobody in the league can beat. They have scored in 13 of these games, very good for a midtable side, however this is neatly balanced by also having conceded in 13. They have kept up the symmetry in their home ties too, treating the crowd at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne to goals in 10 of the 12 fixtures hosted there this season, but they have only kept two clean sheets, conceding in 10 of 12. However, their good form, particularly the draws with Club Brugge and Anderlecht will give them confidence to get a result here.
Mechelen have a similar record in their games on the road this season. They have kept just two clean sheets in 10 fixtures, and facing a team that has scored in all but one of their previous six will pose a real threat. They themselves have scored in six of eight, finding the net eight times in their last four games, and on paper should be winning this game. However, they have only kept two clean sheets at all since September, both of which were wins against the bottom-two, Beerschot and Seraing, so they will likely need to score at least twice to be assured of all three points here.
⚽
Prediction: Both Teams to Score – Yes, 1.57 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Waasland-Beveren vs Westerlo (First Division B)
🏟
Sunday 30th January – 3:00PM KO
A top-of-the-table clash in Belgian football’s second tier is the perfect way to introduce the First Division B to these tips. Leaders Westerlo visit second-placed Waasland-Beveren, although their 10 point cushion Division B to these tips. Leaders Westerlo visit second-placed Waasland-Beveren, although their 10 point (potentially 13 with their game-in-hand) at the top makes this game slightly less crucial than might initially be expected. Westerlo look to be cruising to promotion back to the top-flight, and are a class above every other side in the division, and could give most of the bottom-half of the Pro League a good game.
Hosts Beveren are second despite winning just three of their eight home games this season, losing all five of the other games. The Wase Wolven are having a solid season, but the fans at the Freethiel Stadion wouldn’t particularly know it. They have not kept a single clean sheet in Beveren all season, and a visit from the runaway league leaders doesn’t stand out as the game in which to turn that around.
Westerlo have lost just once in 16 games in the league, taking 14 points from the last 18 available, and come into this game unbeaten in eight. They have only been prevented from scoring on one occasion, and have kept a league-high seven clean sheets from their 16 games. Their away form has seen them win seven of their eight games on the road, with four clean sheets in these matches, and yet despite all this they are sitting at 1.8 to win here, which is a ridiculously good price when you consider just how good they have been this season.
Although this is likely to be one of the tougher games Westerlo will face, I see little to no reason to believe they won’t overcome their nearest rivals and extend their lead even further by teatime on Sunday.
⚽
Prediction: Westerlo to Win, 1.8 on Betfair (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Written by an Andy verified content writer
18+ please gamble responsibly.
Back the 6/1 Belgian Football Accumulator on Betfair ⬇️
🧾
Load the bet slip @ 6.84 at Betfair
*Bet link only appears when accessing from mobile.
Haven’t got a Betfair account? You’re in luck…
Sign up to Betfair and get a full refund if your first bet loses. Grab an account through the offer below and place £20 on the 6/1 Belgian Football Best Bets Accumulator. Here are the two possible outcomes:
✅
You win £136 cash if it wins
🔄
Or you get your £20 stake back as cash
