Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise has made an impressive entry into the Champions League, defeating renowned Dutch club PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in a spirited group stage match in the Netherlands. This historic victory marks Union’s first-ever appearance in Europe’s elite tournament, following their long-awaited comeback to prominence by winning the Belgian league title for the first time in 90 years just last season.
Union Saint-Gilloise has a fairytale history, having resurrected its fortunes from the depths of the domestic fourth tier. Their modest home ground accommodates only 9,400 fans, making this achievement even more remarkable. The victory showcased an international mix of talent, spearheaded by captain Christian Burgess, a former League Two centre back from England, with goals scored by Promise David from Canada, Belgium’s Anouar Ait El Hadj, and Argentina’s Kevin Mac Allister.
David opened the scoring with a penalty after an erroneous challenge by US international Ricardo Pepi. El Hadj’s stunning strike came just before half-time, as he showcased his skill with a solo run, while Mac Allister capped off the night with a goal from close range after a corner. Interestingly, Mac Allister is the elder brother of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and was named after a character from the movie Home Alone.
PSV Eindhoven’s consolation goal came late from new signing Ruben van Bommel, son of former Dutch star Mark van Bommel; however, it couldn’t overshadow a disappointing night for the Dutch champions, who had not lost in their prior eleven matches across league and UEFA competitions.
Union’s historic win positions them as one of four clubs making their tournament debuts this season, alongside Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, Kazakhstan’s Kairat, and Pafos from Cyprus. In other UEFA action, Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, with substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard each playing pivotal roles in scoring shortly after being introduced.
As the competition progresses, the top eight teams will advance directly to the round of 16, while the next 16 will enter a two-legged playoff, with only eight moving forward.