2025-26 UEFA Champions League: League Phase – USG vs Newcastle

Union Saint-Gilloise host Newcastle in a league phase encounter in 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

Union Saint-Gilloise (USG) seek to stay in the top five with victory, whilst Newcastle will look to climb into the top 20 with a win.

 

Team News

USG will be without forward, Mohammed Fuseini due to an ankle injury.

Raul Florucz is absent due to suspension.

Newcastle will be without defender, Tino Livramento after he suffered a serious knee injury during their 2-1 Premier League defeat at home to Arsenal.

Fabian Schar (concussion) and Lewis Hall (fatigue) could return but Jacob Ramsey (ankle) and Yoane Wissa (knee) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

USG host Newcastle at Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, on Wednesday 1 October at 6:45pm CEST (5:45pm BST), live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Union Saint-Gilloise’s first-ever meeting against Newcastle in all UEFA competitions.
• Newcastle are playing away to USG for the first time in any major competition.
• USG have won one of two previous home games against English opposition in all UEFA competitions (W1, L1), having lost 4-2 to Birmingham City in October 1959 in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup then beat Liverpool 2-1 in December 2023 in Europa League.
• Newcastle have lost just one of five away trips to Belgian opposition in all UEFA competitions (W3, D1, L1).

 

Prediction

With just one defeat in all competitions this season, USG can’t be underestimated because they certainly do have enough attacking quality to trouble Newcastle’s defence, especially if Promise David isn’t efficiently marked at all times given his threat down the middle amongst defenders.

Newcastle meanwhile just weren’t clinical enough in open play to beat Arsenal as set piece moments really summed up the story of that game, so I would like to see them show more composure when able to attack but Livramento is a huge defensive blow out wide given his quality on overlaps.

Nevertheless I expect this to be a close battle because USG are in hot form whereas Newcastle are struggling for consistent form, but Eddie Howe’s Magpies should be good enough for a point.

Prediction: USG 1-1 Newcastle

Result: USG 0-4 Newcastle