In a narrow victory on Thursday evening, Union Saint-Gilloise defeated Club Brugge 1-0 and climbed to the top of the table for the first time this season with 43 points, ahead of Brugge and Genk.
Following favourites Genk’s draw with Antwerp, both Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise had a chance to strengthen their position in the title race for the Champions’ Playoffs of the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium's highest division.
Brugge controlled the ball early on, while the Brussels side showed the same aggression demonstrated last weekend in Limburg, where they beat Genk.
The intensity boiled over in the 24th minute when Promise David clattered into Simon Mignolet, resulting in the first yellow card of the match.
Club Brugge struggled to find their game against Union’s clinical edge. Ivanovic almost opened the scoring with the match’s first significant chance in the 32nd minute.
Just two minutes later, Castro-Montes curled a shot past Mignolet, putting Union ahead (34th minute, 0-1).
Union's Alessio Castro-Montes celebrates after scoring against Club Brugge, Thursday 24 April 2025 in Brugge. Credit: Belga / Kurt Desplenter
The home team’s response was tentative, with attempts from Jutgla and Tzolis just before the half-time whistle, while Union nearly doubled their lead through Castro-Montes.
The second half began similarly, with Bruges trying to equalise, but efforts from Vermant and Tzolis were off target.
Union absorbed the pressure, with Ivanovic once again close to scoring in the 71st minute.
Club Brugge believed they might snatch an equaliser in the final moments, but Moris saved a shot from Tzolis in injury time, and Vetlessen’s header hit the crossbar.
So far, Union have won 5 games out of 5. The play-offs continue this weekend with match day 6 (out of 10).
