Union saint-gilloise battles bodo glimt in crucial champions league qualifier

The Union Saint-Gilloise secured a dramatic 3-3 draw against Norwegian champions Bodo Glimt in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, played in Ostend. The Belgians now face a daunting task to advance after conceding three goals from set-pieces.

An intense opening to the tie

The match began with an early setback as Norwegian forward Berg struck from a free-kick in the 20th minute. However, Union striker Florucz quickly restored parity just five minutes later. The visitors reclaimed the lead through Blomberg’s penalty before half-time, only for Florucz to equalize once again in stoppage time.

In the closing stages, Union captain David Hubert put his side ahead with a composed finish in the 88th minute. Yet Bodo Glimt’s Bjortuft leveled the contest just one minute into added time, setting up a nervy second leg in Norway.

A must-win scenario in Norway

The return fixture on August 11 at Bodo Glimt’s home ground will be decisive. A victory would propel the Union into the play-off round, where they would face either Olympiacos or NEC Nijmegen. The eventual winner of this phase will join Club Brugge in the league stage, as the Belgian champions secured direct qualification.

What’s at stake for the Union?

Should the Brussels-based side fall short, they will drop into the UEFA Europa League group stage. Their recent Champions League campaigns have ended in disappointment, with early exits to Rangers in 2022 and Slavia Prague in 2024. This season, they aim to rewrite that narrative with a strong performance in Scandinavia.