Union Saint-Gilloise played out an exhilarating 3-3 draw against Bodo Glimt in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round encounter on Tuesday in Brussels, a match where they regrettably conceded all three goals from set-piece situations.
The Belgian side, Union Saint-Gilloise, concluded the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie with a 3-3 stalemate against Norwegian vice-champions Bodo/Glimt. This captivating match unfolded on Tuesday evening in Ostende.
The scoring began with a free-kick from Norway’s Berg in the 20th minute, putting Bodo/Glimt ahead. However, Florucz quickly found an equalizer for Union Saint-Gilloise in the 25th minute. Bodo/Glimt reclaimed their lead shortly after, with Blomberg converting a penalty in the 29th minute. Just before halftime, Florucz struck again in the 45th+5 minute, leveling the score once more. As the match neared its conclusion, David appeared to secure a late advantage for the Unionists in the 88th minute. Yet, another set-piece proved costly, as Bjortuft restored parity for the Norwegian visitors in the 90th+1 minute. The decisive second leg is scheduled for Tuesday, August 11th, at 6:00 PM, on Bodo’s artificial turf pitch in Norway. The victor of this tie will progress to the play-off round, where they will face the winner of the third preliminary round match between Greek vice-champions Olympiacos Le Pirée and NEC Nimègue, who finished third in the Dutch Eredivisie and also played to a goalless draw. The team that triumphs in the play-off will earn a coveted spot in the Champions League league phase, a stage already secured by Belgian champions Club Bruges.
Should Union Saint-Gilloise fall short in this Champions League third qualifying round against the formidable leaders of the Norwegian championship, their European journey will continue in the Europa League league phase. This scenario is not entirely new for the Unionists, who previously exited the third preliminary round in 2022 at the hands of Glasgow Rangers, and again in 2024 after a defeat by Slavia Prague.
