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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Smith

Union Saint-Gilloise factfile: Who are Rangers' Champions League opponents?

Union Saint-Gilloise factfile: Who are Rangers' Champions League opponents?

Rangers will take on Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in their opening Champions League qualifier.

The Europa League runners-up are due to be away from home in the first leg of the third qualifying round on August 2-3.

The winners will progress to the play-off stage of the competition.

Here is everything you need to know about the Belgian side...

Union Saint-Gilloise were formed in 1897 and currently play at the Stade Joseph Marien, Brussels, with a capacity of 9,400.

Union finished runners-up in the Belgian league last season behind Club Brugge, but they topped the table after the regular season of 34 matches before points were halved ahead of six-match play-offs.

They had only returned to the top flight in 2021 following a 48-year absence.

Union won the most recent of their 11 Belgian titles in 1935 and play in a 9,400-capacity stadium, the Stade Joseph Marien, in Brussels.

They rounded off their pre-season programme with a 4-0 victory at Feyenoord on Saturday and kick off their domestic season this weekend.

Saint-Gilloise are currently managed by Karel Geraerts. He just recently took on the role after being assistant to Felice Mazzu, who moved on to Anderlecht.

A key man to look out for in the Union side is Dante Vanzeir. The tricky and pacey winger scored 13 goals in the league last season and provided many an assist for striker Deniz Undav who moved to Brighton this summer.

Union are also owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom.

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