Union Saint-Gilloise draws 3-3 with Bodo/Glimt, champions league hopes hinge on norway clash

The Brussels-based club, Union Saint-Gilloise, played out an exciting 3-3 stalemate with Norwegian vice-champions Bodo/Glimt during the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie on Tuesday evening in Ostend.

The visitors took an early lead through Berg’s free-kick in the 20th minute, but Florucz quickly responded for Union in the 25th. Bodo/Glimt regained their advantage from a Blomberg penalty in the 29th. However, Florucz struck again just before halftime, leveling the score at 45th+5. David then put the Unionists ahead late in the game, scoring in the 88th minute. Yet, another set-piece proved costly as Bjortuft found the equalizer for Bodo/Glimt in the 90th+1 minute, ensuring the parity. The decisive second leg is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11th, at 6:00 PM on Bodo’s artificial pitch in Norway. The winner of this intense encounter will advance to face either Greek vice-champions Olympiacos Piraeus or Dutch Eredivisie’s third-placed NEC Nijmegen in the play-offs, after their initial match also ended in a 0-0 draw. The victor of the play-off round will secure a spot in the Champions League League Phase, where Belgian champions Club Brugge have already qualified.

Should Union fail to progress past the third round of the Champions League against the current leaders of the Norwegian championship, they will be rerouted to the League Phase of the Europa League. The team previously faced elimination at this stage in 2022 against Glasgow Rangers and in 2024 when they were knocked out by Slavia Prague.