PSV Eindhoven vs Union Saint-Gilloise | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 16th September 2025

Champions of the Netherlands versus champions of Belgium — tasty. PSV Eindhoven welcome Union Saint-Gilloise to the Philips Stadion on 16 September 2025 for a proper early-season barometer. PSV are coming off a 5–3 thriller at NEC on Saturday with Ricardo Pepi bagging a brace, while Union ground out a 1–0 away win at Dender to stay top domestically. Expect a loud night and a few travelling Ultras in fine voice.

In terms of shapes, PSV usually go 4-2-3-1/4-3-3: high full-backs, two eights to feed the wide men and a penalty-box striker. Union are a tidy, well-drilled 4-3-3/4-2-3-1: compact distances, clever rotations in midfield and quick runners to attack the far post. It feels like PSV’s firepower versus Union’s structure — a good styles clash.

• PSV’s volume game: last season they averaged about 64% possession and 17.5 shots, with a chunky 2.4 xG. They press to keep you penned in, then switch to isolate the wide man for cut-backs.
• Union’s clean channels: around 58% possession, but they’re choosy — 14.2 shots and 1.8 xG with plenty of set-play value (0.4 goals/game). They love the outswinger to the late runner.
• Second-half tilt: both sides do more damage after the break (PSV 58% of goals, Union 62%). Fitness and benches could swing this late.

PSV Eindhoven: Out/major doubts — Alassane Pléa (knee, long-term), Mauro Júnior (ankle), and late checks on Paul Wanner (ankle) and Joey Veerman (thigh). Fit and firing: Ricardo Pepi after that brace, plus creators Ismael Saibari and Jerdy Schouten to feed transitions. Couhaib Driouech offers direct pace from wide.

Union Saint-Gilloise: Doubts — Christian Burgess (knock), Guillaume François (knock). Keeper Kjell Scherpen is a long-term absentee, so the gloves likely pass to Joachim Imbrechts. In attack, Kevin Rodríguez has just returned with a winner, while livewires Promise David and Elton Kabangu give the wide threat.

Only currently registered players are referenced; selections may still change at the last minute.

PSV (last 10 competitive): 8 wins, 0 draws, 2 defeats. Around 3.1 scored and 0.7 conceded on last season’s full sample, though early 2025/26 has been a touch looser at the back. Clean sheets were frequent in 2024/25 (55%).

Union SG (last 10 competitive): 7 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat. Scoring roughly 2.0 and conceding 0.9 on last season’s numbers; this term they’ve tightened further with a run of shut-outs away from home.

PSV: 3.1  |  Union SG: 2.0

PSV: 0.7  |  Union SG: 0.9

PSV: 55%  |  Union SG: 45%

PSV: 64%  |  Union SG: 58%

PSV: 7.2  |  Union SG: 5.8

PSV: 2.4  |  Union SG: 1.8

PSV: 0.9  |  Union SG: 1.1

PSV: 0.6  |  Union SG: 0.4

PSV: 0.2  |  Union SG: 0.3

PSV: 87%  |  Union SG: 83%

PSV: 17.5 (6.8 on target)  |  Union SG: 14.2 (5.4 on target)

PSV: 1.3  |  Union SG: 2.1

PSV: 22.5  |  Union SG: 24.0

PSV: 42% first half / 58% second half  |  Union SG: 38% / 62%

PSV: 25% under / 75% over  |  Union SG: 45% under / 55% over

PSV: 2.6  |  Union SG: 2.3

PSV at the Philips Stadion (last 10 home): Relentless. Frequent multi-goal wins, plenty of corners and pressure. Clean sheets common last year, though early-season rust has shown in a couple of counters conceded.

Union SG away (last 10 away): Unbeaten in nine on the road with seven wins. They control space, pinch turnovers and nick set-play joy. It’s rarely chaotic — they suffocate you, then strike.

PSV routinely post 2.0+ xG and pin teams in, while Union sit closer to ~1.8 with a bit more set-play reliance. On the balance of chances, PSV should edge the shot quality, but Union’s defensive shape keeps it tight.

These two haven’t met often. The most recent competitive clashes were in the 2022 Europa League group stage — a 2–0 PSV win in Eindhoven and a 0–0 in Brussels. Earlier meetings were friendlies with mixed results. No games since 2022, so there’s not much recent history to lean on beyond the fact both clubs have grown into title-winners since.

Ricardo Pepi (PSV): Mobile finisher who attacks the front post and presses centre-backs into mistakes. Form ticked up with that brace at NEC — confidence high.

Kevin Rodríguez (Union SG): Direct runs and tidy hold-up in tight spaces. If Union break cleanly, he’s the one timing the dart across the near-side centre-back.

Union’s away run is serious, but PSV at home with that shot volume is a big ask. Expect Union to keep their block compact and frustrate, yet PSV’s waves of pressure and bench options usually tell.

Prediction: PSV Eindhoven 2–1 Union Saint-Gilloise

Main pick: PSV to win — superior chance creation (xG ~2.4) and home pressure should edge it despite Union’s resilience.

Value bet: Both Teams To Score — PSV matches clear over trends; Union travel well and carry enough punch for one.