Very lively derby between Union and Anderlecht this Sunday. Neither team managed to score. Club Bruges is now the sole leader of the Champions Play-offs!
Summit match this Sunday between Union and Anderlecht. The two teams are neck and neck in the standings and both must win or risk losing the lead in the Champions Play-offs to Club Brugge.
Both teams are in good shape. Anderlecht recovers Dreyer and also aligns Ashimeru. To the Union, Blessin decides to align Teklab And Lazarus ; Chick And Sadiki are on the bench.
A high-level first half
You shouldn’t arrive late. The meeting starts very strongly, with already an intervention for Morris after just 2 minutes. The Union goalkeeper must then come out to prevent Ashimeru, who was in front of him, from shooting (4th).
The Union responds via Love, back to his best level. The Algerian unleashes a magnificent volley that deflects for a corner Schmeichel. It’s only the 8th minute, and already both teams almost scored.
No goal, but the goalkeepers still have work to do
The movements are good and fluid, the rhythm sustained. Anderlecht think to open the score, but Moris has a fantastic double save in front Dolberg Then Dreyer (21st). Via Amoura again, the Union calls on Schmeichel, who deflects a terrible strike from the attacker (26th). In the fight, Anderlecht loses its captain Jan Vertonghenreleased due to injury.
Difficult to trace a trend in this first half. The two teams are close. On a beat moment, Mac Allister follows a head of Machida and blew up Duden Park. The referee calms the public and reassures the Mauves by canceling the goal for an offside position (38th).
Anderlecht has a few chances…then stops playing
While the first half was quite enjoyable to follow, the second is deconstructed. Both camps multiply technical errors and mistakes. The referee Bram Van Driessche whistles a lot and often breaks the game.
Despite this, there are opportunities. Anderlecht gets a few but is imprecise in the finishing zone. Stroeykensvery well placed, crushes his recovery too much (49th). Delaneyforgotten by the defense, tries to place with the flat foot but barely misses the target (54th).
The Union has pushed as rarely and finds itself frustrated
Gradually, the Union began to gain possession of the ball and dominate the game. Anderlecht is put under more and more pressure and regroups in front of its rectangle.
Amoura attempts another powerful shot from outside the rectangle, which Schmeichel deflects with his fingertips (64th). The Dane then gives himself a nice scare on a cross-shot from Doors.
He still has to work on a low strike from Nilsson (71st). Despite the entry into the game ofAmuzuAnderlecht suffered and the Union, following the rise of Chick, keeps pushing. Schmeichel is very happy to win another face-to-face with Nilsson (86th).
No winner therefore in this lively derby, he only missed the goals. Anderlecht maintains its lead over the Union. Which means that if the Saint-Gillois want to be champions, they must also depend on the results of the Mauves. With Bruges now leader, the suspense remains with just 3 days to go.
