Antwerp FC vs Union SG: Overview

In an electrifying season opener of the 2025/26 Jupiler Pro League, Royal Antwerp FC and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise battled to a tense 1-1 draw at the packed Bosuilstadion. The Friday evening clash lived up to pre-match expectations as both sides demonstrated why they're considered among Belgium's elite.

The atmosphere at Antwerp's iconic venue was electric, with over 15,000 passionate supporters creating a cauldron of noise under the summer evening sky. The significance of this curtain-raiser wasn't lost on either team, with both sets of players showing tremendous intensity from the first whistle.

Antwerp, under the guidance of interim coach Stef Wils, started brightly with Vincent Janssen leading the line effectively. The home side's attacking trio of Janssen, Gyrano Kerk and Michel-Ange Balikwisha caused numerous problems for Union's defense in the opening exchanges. It was Balikwisha who broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a clinical finish after excellent build-up play involving Dennis Praet.

Union Saint-Gilloise, sitting higher in the pre-season predictions and guided by Sébastien Pocognoli, showed their resilience after falling behind. Their equalizer came through Promise David in the 67th minute, the striker reacting quickest to a rebound after Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens had initially made a spectacular save.

This result leaves both Royal Antwerp FC and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise with a solid foundation to build upon as the Jupiler Pro League campaign gets underway. The draw suggests these two well-matched sides will likely be competing near the top of the table as the season progresses, with neither team losing ground in what promises to be a highly competitive Belgian top flight.

"We showed great character after going behind. This is a difficult place to come, especially for the season opener, but I'm pleased with how the players responded in the second half. Promise [David] took his goal well, and I think a draw was a fair reflection of the match," said Union Saint-Gilloise coach Sébastien Pocognoli.

"We're disappointed not to hold onto our lead, but there were many positive aspects to our performance today. Vincent [Janssen] led the line well, and Michel-Ange [Balikwisha] took his goal brilliantly. It's early days, but I can see plenty to build on," remarked Antwerp's interim coach Stef Wils.

"The atmosphere was incredible tonight. We wanted to start with a win for our fans, but Union showed why they're always difficult opponents. We'll take the point and focus on improving for next week," shared Antwerp midfielder Dennis Praet, who provided the assist for his team's goal.

"Coming to Bosuilstadion is always challenging, but we showed great resilience to fight back and earn a point. It's a long season ahead, and this is a solid start against a quality opponent," said Union defender Christian Burgess.

"Both teams showed promising signs in this opener. Antwerp's wing play was effective in the first half, but Union's tactical adjustments after the break changed the dynamic completely. This draw sets up what could be fascinating seasons for both clubs," analyzed former Belgian international Philippe Albert for RTBF.

Possession: Royal Antwerp FC 47% - 53% Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Shots (On Target): Royal Antwerp FC 12 (5) - 14 (6) Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Corners: Royal Antwerp FC 5 - 7 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Cards: Royal Antwerp FC 3 yellow - 2 yellow Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Individual Player Statistics:

Vincent Janssen (Antwerp) - 4 shots, 2 on target, 7 aerial duels won Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Antwerp) - 1 goal, 3 key passes, 87% passing accuracy Dennis Praet (Antwerp) - 1 assist, 92% passing accuracy, 3 chances created

Promise David (Union) - 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 2 key passes Charles Vanhoutte (Union) - 91% passing accuracy, 8 ball recoveries, 3 interceptions Christian Burgess (Union) - 5 clearances, 4 interceptions, 9 duels won

Team Comparison: Antwerp displayed superior efficiency in the final third during the first half, completing 7 successful crosses compared to Union's 3. The visitors countered with a more controlled possession game, particularly after halftime, completing 368 passes to Antwerp's 311. Union's pressing was also more effective, winning the ball in the attacking third 9 times compared to Antwerp's 4 recoveries in similar positions. The statistical indicators reflect the balanced nature of this Jupiler Pro League encounter, with neither Royal Antwerp FC nor Royale Union Saint-Gilloise able to establish clear dominance.

15': First significant chance of the match falls to Antwerp's Vincent Janssen, whose powerful header from Gyrano Kerk's cross forces a spectacular save from Union goalkeeper Vic Chambaere.

33': GOAL! Michel-Ange Balikwisha puts Royal Antwerp FC ahead with a precise finish into the bottom corner after receiving a clever through ball from Dennis Praet. Antwerp 1-0 Union.

41': Yellow card for Mahamadou Doumbia (Antwerp) after a late challenge on Charles Vanhoutte in the middle of the park.

45+2': Union nearly equalize before the break as Kevin Rodríguez's shot strikes the post following a swift counter-attack.

Half-time: Royal Antwerp FC 1-0 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

58': Tactical change for Union as coach Pocognoli switches to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 formation, pushing Anouar Ait El Hadj further forward to support Promise David.

67': GOAL! Promise David equalizes for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, reacting quickest to tap home after Senne Lammens parries Anouar Ait El Hadj's initial shot. Antwerp 1-1 Union.

73': Double substitution for Antwerp as they look to regain the lead, bringing fresh legs into their midfield and attack.

85': Intense pressure from Antwerp in the closing stages, with Thibo Somers coming close with a curling effort that narrowly misses the top corner.

90+4': Final whistle - Royal Antwerp FC 1-1 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. A fair result in this engaging Jupiler Pro League opener.

The rivalry between Royal Antwerp FC and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise has intensified in recent seasons, with both clubs establishing themselves among Belgium's elite. Prior to this 1-1 draw, the head-to-head record slightly favored Union, who had won three of the previous six Jupiler Pro League encounters, with Antwerp claiming two victories and one match ending in a draw.

Last season's meetings produced contrasting results, with Union securing a comprehensive 3-0 win at their Stade Joseph Marien before Antwerp responded with a narrow 2-1 victory at the Bosuilstadion. This pattern of home advantage has been a consistent feature of this fixture, making Union's away draw in this season opener particularly noteworthy.

The statistical comparison from previous meetings shows Antwerp typically dominating possession at home (averaging 55% in the last three home fixtures), while Union have historically been more efficient with their chances, converting at a rate of 18% compared to Antwerp's 14% in their recent confrontations.

On the pitch, several individual battles proved decisive in shaping this match. The duel between Antwerp's creative force Dennis Praet and Union's midfield anchor Charles Vanhoutte was particularly fascinating, with both players showcasing their technical abilities. Similarly, the contest between Union defender Christian Burgess and Antwerp striker Vincent Janssen was evenly matched, with Burgess making several crucial interventions to prevent the Dutch forward from adding to Antwerp's tally.

Given the closely matched nature of these teams in the Jupiler Pro League landscape, this fixture promises to remain significant in determining the upper positions in the table, with the return match at Union's home ground likely to be equally competitive.

The 1-1 draw in this season opener positions both Royal Antwerp FC and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the middle of the early Jupiler Pro League table with one point each. While it's premature to draw significant conclusions after just one match, this result aligns with pre-season predictions that placed both clubs among the league's top contenders.

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise entered the season with slightly higher expectations, predicted by many analysts to challenge for a top-three finish. This away draw at the difficult Bosuilstadion venue keeps them on track with those ambitions. For Union, maintaining their strong start will be crucial as they aim to secure European football next season.

Royal Antwerp FC, coming off a strong 2024/25 campaign with a top-three finish, will view this draw against a fellow contender as an acceptable beginning to their season. Currently positioned 3rd in the nascent table, Antwerp's ambitions of challenging for the title remain intact, though they'll need to improve their home form to realize those aspirations.

Looking at the bigger picture of the Jupiler Pro League competition, both teams demonstrated qualities that should keep them in the upper echelons of the table. With traditional powers like Club Brugge and Anderlecht also expected to compete at the top, every point will be valuable in what promises to be a tightly contested Belgian top flight.