Union Saint-Gilloise vs Newcastle Prediction for 2 October 2025 - Football

🔊 Will Union Saint-Gilloise's triumphant run continue in their debut Champions League campaign? The Belgians have achieved what many second-tier clubs couldn't by starting their journey in Europe's premier competition with a win. Newcastle, too, aren't exactly seasoned veterans on the European stage. Which team will prove stronger at Lotto Park in Anderlecht? Our editorial team provides a prediction on the odds of success for both sides.

Head-to-Head

📊 The teams have never faced each other before.

Union Saint-Gilloise Team Overview

The Brussels side are proving this season that their Pro League title was no fluke. Union remain the only unbeaten team after 10 rounds of regular play. These results allow Sébastien Pocognoli's squad to sit confidently at the top, boasting a solid six-point lead over Club Brugge. Interestingly, the "Apaches" are undefeated not just in the league, but across all competitions. Their debut Champions League match away against PSV Eindhoven ended in a commanding 3-1 victory. Pocognoli's charges effectively managed their limited possession (37%) and launched far more dangerous attacks than their opponents.

Forward David Promes continues to hold himself to high standards following last season's success. He was Union's top scorer in the 2024/25 Pro League campaign with 19 goals and remains so this season, having netted five times across all competitions. Trailing him are midfielder Kevin Rodriguez and striker Raúl Floruc, each with four goals to their names.

Newcastle United Team Overview

The Magpies are enduring a tough spell that started at the end of last season. Looking at their recent form, Newcastle have only secured two wins in their last 10 matches across all competitions. This is largely attributed to their disjointed transfer window this summer. Key signings were made late, making it challenging to integrate new players during the ongoing season. This has impacted their offensive output—just two goals in six Premier League matches. The Geordies failed to capitalize on their chances in the opening round of the Champions League against Barcelona (1.49 xG to 1.29 xG). Conceding twice in a 10-minute span in the second half, the Magpies managed to score only towards the end of the game. The final score was 1-2.

One of the few bright spots has been Nick Woltemade—not just for his distinctive hairstyle. The forward leads the team's scoring chart with two goals in three Premier League appearances. Anthony Gordon has also shown promise. He impressed with his work rate early in the season, but so far, it has translated into just one goal against Barcelona.

Latest news

Union Saint-Gilloise

🎙 Union Saint-Gilloise's head coach was succinct following their historic Pro League title, and he maintained his brevity after the club's debut victory in the Champions League. "We continue to make history. I'm simply proud of my players and grateful to them for the win, as well as to all the club staff involved," expressed Sébastien Pocognoli.

❌ On Wednesday, Mohammed Fuseini will be sidelined. The forward has suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury and is expected to return in early November. However, Sofiane Boufal has fully recovered from a muscle injury and even managed to play 16 minutes in the last Pro League round.

Newcastle United

🎙 Nick Woltemade is adjusting to the realities of English football. Last weekend, he took an elbow to the face from Arsenal defender Gabriel. The forward commented on the incident, saying, "I think it's wrong to take hits like that to the face, but I'm not the type of player who will go down because of it. Sometimes, maybe that's what you should do, but that's not my style of football. I prefer honest competition, but his elbow shouldn't have been near my face."

❌ Newcastle's injury list includes Fabian Schär and Yoane Wissa. The defender suffered a concussion in the first round of the Champions League and will be sidelined for a while longer. New signing Wissa, yet to make his debut for the team, returned with an injury after the international break. Last weekend, Tino Livramento was added to the list of injured players. He left the field on a stretcher during the match against Arsenal. The timeline for his recovery remains unknown.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The match will be officiated by Urs Schnyder from Switzerland. In the previous Champions League, he handed out 18 yellow cards across three matches (including qualifiers). Although he hasn't officiated in the current campaign yet, he has already overseen two Europa League and Conference League playoff games, issuing a total of 11 cautions.

Newcastle have not received more cautions than their opponents in any of their eight matches this season. Meanwhile, Union Saint-Gilloise tend to foul more frequently, often receiving an average of two yellow cards per game. We believe the Magpies, seasoned by the English Premier League, will play smarter even away from home. Our bet: Union Saint-Gilloise to win the yellow card battle.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

As we've noted before, Newcastle struggle with finishing. This is reflected in the stats—The Magpies have scored no more than two goals in 11 of their last 12 matches. On the road, this figure drops further, with less than 1.5 goals in 9 of their last 10 away games. Notably, Union Saint-Gilloise have conceded more than once in only one of their 11 matches this season. Considering all factors, the best bet appears to be on Newcastle's total goals under 1.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Newcastle manage to earn a substantial number of corners even with minimal ball possession. In their last game against Arsenal, where they held only 36% possession, they still registered seven corners. Similar numbers were seen against Barcelona, with just one fewer set-piece. Over time, the British side's penchant for corners becomes even more evident—at least 4.5 in 9 of their last 10 outings. It's almost certain that Newcastle's total corners will exceed 4.5.

The more skilled Newcastle are significantly ahead in the odds, but we wouldn't be so definitive if we were the bookmakers. The English side lacks chemistry, particularly in attack, which often impacts their scoring – two goals in six Premier League matches speak volumes. Union Saint-Gilloise are well-organized defensively, conceding just one goal away to the Eredivisie's top scorers, PSV. A draw, such as a 1-1 scoreline, seems quite plausible for the upcoming match. Therefore, our main bet suggestion is – Union Saint-Gilloise will not lose.