Union Saint-Gilloise begins champions league journey against bodo/glimt

Union Saint-Gilloise is set to kick off its European campaign on Tuesday in Ostend, facing Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the third qualifying round of the 2026/2027 Champions League.

Fresh off their Belgian Super Cup victory against Club Brugge (decided by penalties), Union Saint-Gilloise will play their inaugural European fixture of the 2026/2027 season this Tuesday at 8:00 PM in Ostend. Fans can catch the live action on RTL Club and RTL Play.

David Hubert’s squad aims to secure a second consecutive appearance in the Champions League group stage. Their challenge begins with the first leg of the third – and penultimate – qualifying round against Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt in this prestigious European competition. The return leg is scheduled for August 11th in Bodo.

However, this obstacle will prove formidable: Bodo/Glimt caused a stir in last year’s Champions League, progressing beyond the league phase, then eliminating Inter Milan in the play-offs before ultimately falling to Sporting CP in the round of 16, despite a commanding 3-0 victory in their home leg.

Furthermore, Bodo/Glimt is expected to arrive in Ostend in peak form, as the Norwegian championship commenced in March, and Union’s opponents currently lead their league, having secured victories in their last five matches.

USG will field a nearly full-strength squad; only Hervé Koffi, a recent acquisition from Lens, will be unavailable for Hubert. The coach described the upcoming fixture as “a significant challenge against a strong team” during Monday’s press conference.

Despite the departures of Christian Burgess and Kjell Scherpen, the Brussels-based club demonstrated a serious performance in the Super Cup. Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen, who observed all of Union’s friendly matches, commented that they appear “very well prepared.”

Should Union emerge victorious from this two-legged encounter, they will face either Greek club Olympiakos or Dutch side NEC Nijmegen in the play-off round. Union would host the decisive second leg, again in Ostend. A loss against Bodo/Glimt, however, would relegate the Brussels club to the Europa League league phase.