The next seven days could define Union St Gilloise's entire 2025/2026 season. If everything clicks, they might be celebrating a historic domestic double by this time next week. But if fortune turns against them, two trophies could slip through their fingers in just a matter of days.
As manager David Hubert put it after their weekend win over KV Mechelen, "We are in second place, but we are not satisfied with that." The message is clear—this squad has bigger ambitions. Before they can climb higher in the league standings, however, they face city rivals Anderlecht in the Belgian Cup final. This marks the first all-Brussels cup final in competition history, and Union St Gilloise enter as heavy favorites. They lifted the cup two years ago and followed it up with the league title last season, so they know what it takes to win on the big stage.
But there's no time for a victory lap if they do claim the cup. This weekend, they travel to Brugge for a massive clash with Club Brugge. Union won the reverse fixture in Brussels but couldn't build on that momentum. Now, they need a win on the road to overtake their title rivals. Anything less means relying on other teams to lend a helping hand in the season's final weeks.
Union St Gilloise's rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Just a few years ago, they were playing in Belgium's second tier. Tell fans back then that their team would be chasing a domestic double, and they'd have thought you were crazy. But smart recruitment, incredible team spirit, and plenty of talent have turned them into one of the premier sides in Belgian football, right alongside Club Brugge. Even Club Brugge has struggled to complete the domestic double in recent years—Antwerp were the last to manage it.
First up is the cup final against Anderlecht. Given how this club operates, victory alone won't be enough to satisfy them. In many ways, this week feels like two cup finals in a matter of days. It's shaping up to be a defining moment not just for Union St Gilloise, but for Belgian football as a whole.