Union Saint-Gilloise stunned the Philips Stadion with a consummate 3-1 victory over PSV in their Champions League debut. VoetbalPrimeur analysed the Belgian mediaโs reaction.
โUnion is a machine in the Champions League too: the Brussels side humiliated PSV in their debut match at the highest level,โย Het Nieuwsbladย raved.
โThis achievement shouldnโt be underestimated. PSV might not be a world-class team these days, but they are and remain a great club โ an evening at the Philips Stadium is highly recommended. But what makes it even crazier, if possible, is that Union once again lost many key players in the off-season. Moris. Machida. Vanhoutte. Sadiki. Ivanovic. It apparently doesnโt matter whoโs on the pitch: Union remains a machine. Even at the highest level.โ
Het Nieuwsbladย noted that PSV were โleft with a serious hangoverโ after their match against Sรฉbastien Pocognoliโs team.
Anouar Aรฏt El Hadj was the standout player for the Belgian side. โHe hasnโt been the same player since the play-offs. His engine seems to have got stronger, his enthusiasm too; he always had that frivolousness. They know that now in Eindhoven too: his 0-2 on the stroke of halftime was a real treat.โ
In Belgium, theyโre already daring to dream. โWhere will this end? Perhaps in the qualifying round, despite that extremely tough draw? We no longer dare to say itโs impossible.โ
โDream debut at the highest level: Union opens the Champions League with a resounding victory at PSV,โ Sporza begins enthusiastically.
โWho will stop the stunt machine Union? After Belgium and football-loving Europe, now the entire football world has truly become acquainted with the Brussels side. The story of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise has been extensively covered in the international football press in recent years. From a second-division side to cup winner and national champion in that cosy Duden Park. Thanks to a shrewd acquisition strategy and coaches who consistently deliver. Only thereโs still a difference between reading and seeing. Well, welcome to the Champions League, Union!โ
De Standaardย are the next outlet to mention the term โdream debut.โ โThe Belgian champions demolished the Dutch champions PSV with three goals. PSV striker Pepi was the target in Eindhoven, as he also played a role in Unionโs first-ever Champions League goal. The American simply arrived too late in the box and passed the ball to Christian Burgess.โ Aรฏt El Hadj then also snatched the ball from him. โWhat the Belgian champions showed in the first half was impressive at times.โ
La Derniรจre Heureย believes PSV brought the defeat on themselves. โIn these kinds of high-level matches, every detail counts, and often the most efficient team wins. PSV learned that the hard way. After just six minutes, the Dutch team could have opened the scoring thanks to Saibari, whose shot went just wide. Two minutes later, Union opened the scoringโฆโ The newspaper noted that Saibariโs shot wasnโt accurate at all. โIn the 55th minute, he could have sent the stadium into turmoil, but this mistake was even worse than the previous one.โ
The highest marks go to captain Christian Burgess and star Anouar Aรฏt El Hadj, who received an 8.5. โA captain in boss mode. After conceding the penalty early in the match, he was fantastic defensively, making several great interceptions on the ground and in the air,โ they said of the defender.
Het Laatste Nieuwsย calls it a โstunt victoryโ and also praises Anouar Aรฏt El Hadj, who receives an 8/10. โEindhoven was his. He was given (a lot of) space and used it superbly. His rush and finish for the second Union goal demonstrate a great deal of self-confidence.โ
GBeNeFNย |ย Max Bradfield
