Real Sociedad arrives in the Belgian capital with a historic mission: to beat Union Saint-Gilloise in European competition, something that the Txuri Urdin have never achieved. The Basque club, which has faced Belgian teams on three previous occasions, seeks to close an outstanding debt that dates back to the 80s and 24-25.
The first match against a Belgian club took place in the 1980-81 season, when Real, led by Luis Aragonés, was eliminated in the third round of the UEFA Cup by Sporting Lokeren. At the Daknamstadion Real lost 1-0 and, despite drawing 2-2 in the second leg in Atotxa, the aggregate score of 3-2 forced the Basque team to fall out of the competition. Sporting Lokeren, which existed as an elite Belgian club until its bankruptcy in 2020, left an indelible mark on Real's history.
The second and most recent clash with a Belgian club occurred in the 2023‑24 season, when Union Saint-Gilloise, managed by former Anderlecht coach Hubert, visited Anoeta. La Real, which had a rotated eleven, opened the scoring with a goal from Marín. However, halfway through the first half, the Belgian ultras launched a wave of vandalism, throwing objects and breaking the lower perspex of the stands. The match was briefly suspended, causing a lack of concentration that resulted in two goals in the second half. La Real lost 1‑2 and was left out of the qualifying zone for the top 8 of the League.
The context of the visit to Union Saint-Gilloise is therefore doubly significant. On the one hand, Real seeks to overcome a streak of defeats against Belgian teams; On the other hand, it tries to avoid a repeat of the traumatic experience of 2024, where vandalism and lack of concentration cost European qualification. The realistic fans, who have seen their team lose in both matches, hope that the experience in enemy territory will allow the Txuri Urdin to break with history and achieve a positive result.
With the game date set for Thursday, Real's coaches and players are focused on tactical and psychological preparation. Union Saint-Gilloise, for its part, seeks to consolidate its position in the European competition and take advantage of the home field advantage. The result of this match will not only determine Real's fate in the group stage, but will also mark a milestone in the historical relationship between both clubs. The next matchday promises to be decisive for the European reputation of the Basque team and for the continuity of its campaign in the League.