With the next international break just around the corner, one league that doesn’t stop for the World Cup qualifiers is the Belgium Proximus League. One of the midweek fixtures sees Saint-Gilloise travel to Westerlo look to go 4th in the table. The hosts are currently 5^th with ten points while the visitors are one place below with eight points. Three points for either side will see them overtake Roeselare in 4^th.

STATS

• Westerlo are unbeaten in their last five matches in the league and have the chance to make it three wins on the bounce in this one. Their last loss in the league came against Wednesday’s opponents in the fixture earlier in the campaign where they were comfortably defeated 3-0. They picked up a narrow 2-1 win over Tubize in their last match which gave them a vital three points.
• Saint-Gilloise have been quite disappointing in the league this term and with four defeats in their eight matches, they are struggling to get a foothold in their games. They have only won one of their last five league games and were only just beaten by a strong Cercle Brugge side in their last one with a 2-1 scoreline.
• Jens Naessens has been in great form for Westerlo this season so far and with five goals, only one player has managed more. The Belgian forward will need his shooting boots if his side want to beat Saint-Gilloise.
• Saint-Gilloise have struggled to score goals this term and with just nine goals in the whole squad, they haven’t found a ruthless goal scorer. Their leading scorer is Julien Vercauteren, who has just two goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

The 3-0 victory for Saint-Gilloise earlier in the season was the first time the two sides have met. There will be three more fixtures between them this term and Westerlo will be hoping to level up the head to head chart with a win of their own. It was Julien Vercauteren who inspired Saint-Gilloise to win the last one as he scored two goals for the hosts either side of a goal from Roman Ferber.

Head to head matches: KVC Westerlo - Union Saint-Gilloise

19.08.2017

Firs

Union Saint-Gilloise

KVC Westerlo

3:0

WESTERLO NEWS

A win for Westerlo would put them in a very comfortable position and would give them the chance to break into the next three as the international break continues. They are without Benjamin De Ceulaer, who picked up a shoulder injury a few weeks ago but he shouldn’t be missed too much.

Latest matches: KVC Westerlo

30.09.2017	Firs	FC Tubize	KVC Westerlo	1:2	W
24.09.2017	Firs	KVC Westerlo	KSV Roeselare	4:0	W
20.09.2017	Beke	KVC Westerlo	RSC Anderlecht	0:1	L
16.09.2017	Firs	KFCO Wilrijk	KVC Westerlo	2:2	D
09.09.2017	Firs	Lierse SK	KVC Westerlo	2:2	D

SAINT-GILLOISE NEWS

Another win for Saint-Gilloise over Westerlo would also put them in a good position as they would leapfrog the two sides above them. They don’t have any injury worries going into the match which gives them their best chance of winning but it won’t be easy by any stretch.

Latest matches: Union Saint-Gilloise

29.09.2017	Firs	Union Saint-Gilloise	Cercle Brugge KSV	1:2	L
23.09.2017	Firs	Lierse SK	Union Saint-Gilloise	2:1	L
20.09.2017	Beke	KV Oostende	Union Saint-Gilloise	3:1	L
15.09.2017	Firs	Union Saint-Gilloise	Oud-Heverlee Leuven	0:0	D
09.09.2017	Firs	Union Saint-Gilloise	KSV Roeselare	4:0	W

SUMMARY

With home advantage and the stronger form heading into this mid-table clash, Westerlo have to be considered as favourites but must be careful of the threat Saint-Gilloise pose. The visitors have shown that they can beat the side above them in the table but will need a very confident performance to do the same again especially away from home. There’s potential to see quite a few goals in this one.