Fresh off a dramatic Belgian Super Cup victory against Club Bruges in a penalty shootout, Union Saint-Gilloise is set to make its European debut in the 2026/2027 Champions League third qualifying round. The Brussels-based club will face Norway’s Bodo/Glimt in a high-stakes first leg on Tuesday at 8:00 PM CET in Ostend, broadcast live exclusively on RTL Club and RTL Play.
Tough opening challenge against a rising European force
Bodo/Glimt arrives in Belgium with formidable momentum. The Norwegian side, which stunned Europe last season by advancing past the group stage, eliminating Inter Milan in the playoffs, and nearly overcoming Sporting CP in the Round of 16, remains a formidable opponent. Now leading the Norwegian league after five consecutive wins, Bodo/Glimt looks poised to pose a serious threat to Union Saint-Gilloise’s ambitions.
Manager David Hubert has called the upcoming clash “a beautiful challenge against a physically strong team.” Despite the loss of key defenders Christian Burgess and Kjell Scherpen, the Belgian side delivered a strong performance in the Super Cup, signaling readiness for the European stage. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen, who has closely monitored Union’s preseason, praised the team’s preparation, calling it “very solid.”
A high-stakes route to the group stage
The winner of this two-legged tie will advance to the playoff round, where they’ll face either Olympiacos of Greece or NEC Nijmegen from the Netherlands—both second legs to be played in Ostend. A loss, however, would relegate Union Saint-Gilloise to the Europa League group stage, marking a significant setback in its pursuit of consecutive Champions League appearances.
With a near-full squad at his disposal—only goalkeeper Hervé Koffi, recently signed from Lens, is unavailable—Hubert’s team is determined to overcome this tough opener and continue its rapid ascent in European football.