Brussels traditional club celebrates European return!
St. Gilloise take on Glasgow Rangers in a clash of Belgian and Scottish runners-up in Champions League qualifying. The home side, however, will have to do without the home bonus for a bit.
Due to the dilapidated condition of the venerable Stade Joseph Marien in Brussels, the match will be played in neighbouring Leuven. For the hosts, the match is nevertheless of a historic nature.
As a promoted team, they were runners-up in the Jupiler League at the first attempt and thus managed a return to the European stage after almost 60 years!
For the match at The King Power At Den Dreef Stadium between St. Gilloise and Glasgow Rangers, however, the tip is aiming for an away win, with a draw backed by the selection of a DNB bet.
St. Gilloise – Statistics & recent form
The Blue-Yellows may be the third most successful team in the kingdom after Bruges (18) and record champions Anderlecht (34) with eleven championships, but their successes all came before the Second World War.
Now, the club is back after decades in sporting obscurity and, as described, immediately claimed the runners-up championship after promotion last year. This season, however, the baguettes will be smaller again at St Gilles.
It is clear to everyone in the club and among the blue and yellow supporters that such a success can hardly be repeated, because the financial possibilities are noticeably smaller compared to the top teams from Bruges or Ghent.
Last season’s breakthrough was also mainly due to Deniz Undav’s very strong season. The German won the top scorer’s crown in the Jupiler League and was also a reliable passer of the ball.
Undav is now kicking on the British south coast
Naturally, his phenomenal performances in Europe’s top leagues have not gone unnoticed, which is why he will now be chasing goals in the Premier League at Brighton. The club from the capital has lost its successful coach Felice Mazzu on top. To make matters worse, the manager is now taking the reins at city rivals Anderlecht, where he replaces Vincent Kompany, who has also left for the Premier League.
The bloodletting in the squad and on the bench will of course leave its mark and the first two games of the new season in the Jupiler confirm this assumption – especially with regard to a decline in the offensive.
After a tired 1:1 in St. Truiden, last Friday night’s home game against the Walloons from Charleroi was only enough for a narrow 1:0 for the kickers from Dudenpark. Although Dennis Eckert Ayensa, another German attacker, was signed, it is questionable whether the former Ingolstadt player has Undav’s class. Especially before last season’s performances in the Second Bundesliga, when he only managed two goals in 24 appearances for the “Schanzer”.
Low-scoring evening in Leuven?
At least the home side’s defence held together for the most part, and it was convincing last season: no team in the Jupiler League conceded fewer goals!
With a weakened attack and a strong defence, the odds on a maximum of two goals by the final whistle in Leuven are also worth considering for the match between St. Gilloise and Glasgow Rangers. Furthermore, bets on no more than one goal by the hosts are also worth considering.
Predicted line-up of St. Gilloise:
Moris – Burgess – Van Der Heyden – Kandouss – Niewkoop – Lazare Amani – Lynen – Teuma – Vanzeir – Adingra – Eckert Ayensa
Last matches played by St. Gilloise:
Jupiler Liga
30/07/2022 – Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 1 – 0 RSC Charleroi
24/07/2022 – VV St. Truiden 1 – 1 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Friendly club matches
16/07/2022 – Fey. Rotterdam 0 – 4 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
14/07/2022 – Sporting CP 1 – 1 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
09/07/2022 – Brighton 0 – 0 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Glasgow Rangers – Statistics & current form
The Scots were able to sign a highly talented player in Malik Tillman a few days ago. The 20-year-old was loaned from FC Bayern Munich, where he had hardly been used in view of the famously very strong squad. At Rangers, the youngster wants to gain match practice and develop further. Tillman will undoubtedly be very motivated. After all, he still has hopes of playing in the upcoming World Cup finals in Qatar.
There, the youngster would like to start with the Soccer Boys of the USA, because the attacking player passed through several youth teams of the DFB, but in the end he decided to play for the US national team, where he also made his debut against Morocco in the summer.
Rangers with win in season opener in Scotland
The Scottish runners-up also kicked off league action at national level last weekend. Coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side recorded a comfortable 2-1 away win at Livingston.
The preparation was also satisfactory. Although the last test match against Tottenham was narrowly lost, a 1:2 against the top team from London around Harry Kane, who also provided both goals, is still respectable. In addition, another representative from the Premier League, West Ham, was defeated 3:1. In the defeat against Spurs, newcomer Antonio Colak scored his first goal.
The Croatian was signed from PAOK in the Greek Super League and was, among other things, co-leading scorer in the Croatian HNL in 2020 in the service of HNK Rijeka. However, Alfredo Morales, who was the visitors’ top scorer in the league last season, will not be able to play due to injury.
Striker Roofe unlikely to feature again
On top, there is a question mark behind his strike partner Kemar Roofe. The attacker also played once in Brussels with Anderlecht and is now on the verge of a transfer, which is why he was already absent in the last games of the Scottish record champions (55).
With Joe Aribo, another powerful attacking player, sold to Southampton, the attacking line is in a process of restructuring.
Predicted line-up of Glasgow Rangers:
McGregor – Goldson – Souttar – Tavernier – Barisic – Kamara – Lundstram – Tillman – Sakala – Colak
Last matches played by Glasgow Rangers:
Premiership
30/07/2022 – Livingston 1 – 2 Rangers
Friendlies
23/07/2022 – Rangers 1 – 2 Tottenham
20/07/2022 – Rangers 3 – 1 West Ham
16/07/2022 – Blackpool 1 – 2 Rangers
FA Cup
21/05/2022 – Rangers 2 – 0 Hearts
St. Gilloise – Glasgow Rangers Direct comparison / H2H record
The clash between the two clubs represents a first. The home side have also only played a club from Scotland once before. The games took place against Heart of Midlothian in the 1961/62 season and both ended in defeat for the Belgians.
The Teddy Bears, on the other hand, have a positive record against Belgian clubs. They have already crossed swords with clubs like Club Brugge or Anderlecht ten times and Rangers have won no less than eight of these encounters (8-1-1)! Only Liège, as the Belgian representative, have been able to inflict a defeat on the visitors once so far.
St. Gilloise – Glasgow Rangers Tip
Union coach Karel Geraerts will know that the top flight is simply more than one size too big. The hosts sensationally claimed the runner-up spot in Belgium last season, but the fairytale cannot be continued. For long stretches, the team played beyond its means and lost not only its top striker in the summer, but also its successful coach Felice Mazzu.
For the first leg of the CL qualifier between St. Gilloise and Glasgow Rangers, betting on an away win (DNB) therefore seems to be profitable.
Admittedly, the “Gers” have lost quality in terms of personnel during the transfer period, for example by selling defender Calvin Bassey to Ajax Amsterdam for more than 20 million euros. But the squad is still better staffed compared to the team from the Brussels district. They also have much more experience on the international stage.
While the home side are playing in Europe for the first time in more than half a century, the Light Blues, as we know, arrive as finalists in the last edition of the Europa League.
