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Union Saint-Gilloise concluded their first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round with an intense 3-3 stalemate against Norwegian vice-champions Bodo/Glimt. The high-scoring encounter took place on Tuesday evening in Ostend, setting the stage for a dramatic return fixture.
The match saw an early lead for Bodo/Glimt courtesy of Berg’s free-kick in the 20th minute. However, Florucz quickly responded for Union in the 25th minute, leveling the score. Bodo/Glimt regained their advantage just four minutes later through Blomberg’s penalty kick. Yet, Florucz once again proved instrumental, finding the equalizer right before halftime in the 45th+5 minute. The drama continued into the final moments as David put the Unionists ahead in the 88th minute, only for Bjortuft to snatch a late parity for Bodo/Glimt in the 90th+1 minute, once more from a set-piece.
The pivotal return leg awaits
The decisive second leg is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at 18:00, and will be played on Bodo’s synthetic pitch in Norway. The victor of this crucial two-legged tie will advance to the play-off round, where they will face the winner of the third preliminary round clash between Greek vice-champions Olympiacos Le Pirée and Dutch Eredivisie’s third-placed NEC Nimègue, whose first leg also ended in a 0-0 draw. The ultimate winner of that play-off will secure a coveted spot in the Champions League league phase, a stage already reached by Belgian champions Club Bruges.
European aspirations: champions league or europa league
Should Union Saint-Gilloise fall short in this third Champions League qualifying round against the current leaders of the Norwegian championship, their European journey will continue in the Europa League league phase. The club has faced similar challenges in previous campaigns, having been eliminated at the third preliminary round stage by Glasgow Rangers in 2022 and by Slavia Prague in 2024, underscoring the fierce competition for a place in Europe’s premier club competition.
