Royale Union Saint-Gilloise embarks on its continental campaign this Tuesday in Ostend, facing Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the third preliminary round of the 2026/2027 UEFA Champions League.
Fresh off their Belgian Supercup victory over Club Brugge, secured through a penalty shootout, Union Saint-Gilloise is set to contest their inaugural European fixture of the 2026/2027 campaign. The highly anticipated match kicks off Tuesday at 8:00 PM in Ostend and will be broadcast live on RTL Club and RTL Play.
Under the guidance of coach David Hubert, the team aims to secure a second consecutive appearance in the prestigious Champions League group stage. Their challenge begins with Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of this crucial third qualifying round, one step away from the play-offs. The decisive return fixture is slated for August 11 in Bodo, Norway.
However, this initial hurdle promises to be formidable. Bodo/Glimt surprised many in last year’s Champions League, advancing from the league phase, then impressively knocking out Inter Milan in the play-offs. Although they ultimately fell to Sporting CP in the round of sixteen, their 3-0 first-leg win against the Portuguese giants showcased their potential.
Furthermore, Bodo/Glimt is expected to arrive in Ostend in peak condition. Their Norwegian league season commenced in March, and the team currently leads the standings, boasting a perfect record of five consecutive victories.
Union Saint-Gilloise will field a nearly full-strength squad for the encounter. Only recent signing Hervé Koffi, acquired from Lens, will be unavailable for coach Hubert. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Hubert described the match as “a significant challenge against a formidable opponent.”
Despite the recent departures of key players like Christian Burgess and Kjell Scherpen, the Brussels-based club demonstrated impressive cohesion and determination in their Supercup performance. Bodo/Glimt’s coach, Kjetil Knutsen, who meticulously observed all of Union’s pre-season friendlies, acknowledged that his adversaries were “exceptionally well-prepared.”
Should Union Saint-Gilloise emerge victorious from this two-legged tie, they will advance to the play-off round, where they would face either Greek side Olympiakos or Dutch club NEC Nijmegen. The return leg of that potential play-off would also be hosted in Ostend. Conversely, a defeat against Bodo/Glimt would see the club transition directly into the UEFA Europa League group stage.
