Champions League draw sets up Bodø/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise in qualifying opener

The draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League has paired Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt with Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. The first leg is scheduled for 4 or 5 August in Brussels, with the return fixture set for 11 August at Bodø/Glimt’s Aspmyra Stadium. The winner of this tie will advance to the qualifying playoffs for a place in the 36-team main phase.

Bodø/Glimt, who finished as runners-up in the Norwegian league last season, face an additional qualifying round compared to their previous campaign. The club, based in a Norwegian fishing town inside the Arctic Circle, gained significant attention last season for reaching the round of 16, including notable victories against Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan.

Union Saint-Gilloise, the Belgian league runners-up, are making their debut in the Champions League main phase following last season’s success. The club is recognised as a smart, data-driven operator in the transfer market, presenting a distinct challenge for the Norwegian side as they navigate the early stages of the competition.

Other notable third-round pairings include Lyon versus Sparta Prague, with the first leg hosted in Prague. Lyon is now majority owned by US businesswoman Michele Kang. Additionally, Olympiakos, the winner of the UEFA Europa Conference League title in 2024, will face NEC Nijmegen, which finished as a surprise third-place team in the Dutch league last season.

The second qualifying round begins on Tuesday, featuring ties such as Fenerbahce versus Gornik Zabrze and Red Star Belgrade versus Larne. Red Star Belgrade, the 1991 European Cup winner, will face Hapoel Beer-Sheva or Víkingur Reykjavík if it first eliminates Larne of Northern Ireland in the second qualifying round.