Preview: Gent vs Union SG - prediction, team news, lineups

Union SG travel to the Planet Group Arena on Saturday to face Gent, as both sides look to continue building momentum on matchday three of the Belgian Pro League.

The home side will be aiming to secure back-to-back wins after edging La Louviere 1-0 last weekend, but they face a confident Union SG outfit coming off a thumping 5-0 victory in their most recent outing.

Match preview

Gent currently sit eighth in the standings, having won one and lost one of their opening two games this season.

Ivan Leko's men began their campaign with a 3-1 defeat at Sint-Truidense, where the deadlock was broken by Leonardo Lopes’s own goal in the 77th minute.

Wilfried Kanga equalised from the spot six minutes later, but Gent conceded twice late on in the 88th and 96th minutes through Adriano Bertaccini and Ryotaro Ito.

They responded with a narrow win against La Louviere, sealed by a second-half goal from Atsuki Ito. However, Union SG present a far sterner test.

Gent are winless in their last five meetings with Saturday’s visitors, a run that includes two heavy losses last season; 3-1 and 3-0.

Union SG kicked off their season with a 1–1 draw away to Antwerp, coming from behind to snatch a point through Raul Florucz. That was followed by a ruthless 5–0 dismantling of Oud-Heverlee Leuven.

Anan Khalaili opened the scoring in the first minute, with Ross Sykes making it three just minutes later, before Florucz struck twice and Ousseynou Niang added a fifth to seal a ruthless win.

Having finished third in the regular season and topped the championship round in 2024–25, Sebastien Pocognoli’s side have started this term strongly and currently sit second.

Gent Belgian Pro League form:

L W

Union SG Belgian Pro League form:

D W

Team News

Gent manager Ivan Leko has already begun integrating his summer signings, including Siebe Van der Heyden and Maksim Paskotsi, as he looks to reshape his squad.

Leko has gradually introduced new additions over the first two matchdays, with Paskotsi and Kanga both finding the net early in the campaign.

Franck Surdez and Hyllarion Goore were brought into the starting XI against La Louviere, replacing Tibe De Vlieger and Dante Vanzeir following the opening-day defeat to STVV.

Max Dean remains a doubt as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury, while Omri Gandelman and Stefan Mitrovic are still sidelined with knocks.

Union SG are still waiting to hand a debut to new goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion. Raul Florucz has made an instant impact, scoring three goals across the first two fixtures.

Pocognoli is likely to stick with the same XI that delivered a dominant 5-0 victory last time out.

Florucz, who came off the bench to equalise against Antwerp, started against Leuven and made it count with a brace, he is expected to keep his place.

Promise David and Christian Burgess are nursing minor injuries and are both doubtful for Saturday’s trip.

Gent possible starting lineup:

Roef; Samoise, Lopes, Kotto, Araujo; Surdez, Delorge, Ito, Varela; Goore, Kanga

Union SG possible starting lineup:

Chambaere; Mac Allister, Leysen, Sykes; Khalaily, Vanhoutte, Zorgane, Niang; Ait El Hadj; Florucz, Rodriguez

We say: Gent 1-3 Union SG

Gent may have the home crowd behind them, but Union SG are the side in rhythm. With Florucz in fine form and Pocognoli’s men bursting with confidence, the visitors should have the edge in both tempo and execution.

Unless Leko’s team delivers a markedly improved performance, particularly in transition and decision-making, Union SG are strong favourites to leave with all three points.

Given their recent form and fluidity in attack, anything less than a sharp, cohesive showing from Gent could prove costly.

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