Union Face Royale Union Saint-Gilloise... Again

Europa League Round of 16 Draw

Fri, 24. February 2023

Union Face Royale Union Saint-Gilloise... Again

After successfully qualifying for the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, 1. FC Union Berlin will once again face Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the last 16. Today's draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland.

The small club from the Brussels suburb achieved the unbelievable last season, coming top of the table in the regular season, immediately following their promotion. In the championship round, however, they were ultimately unable to assert themselves. So, as a result, Saint-Gilloise, who play their home league matches at the Stade Joseph Marien, made it to the Champions League qualifiers, where they were eliminated by Glasgow Rangers. Europa League participation was nevertheless assured.The sides have already met in the group stage, with an away win each to their names.

"You can't always get what you want out of a draw," said Oliver Ruhnert, Union's director of professional football. "So it's Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who we already played in the group phase, and are the only team to have won a match at the Alte Försterei for a long time. So we have something to make up for in the first leg. I think they will be two very open games between two teams with a similar style of play. Our goal must be to achieve a good result in the first leg."

The first leg at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei will take place on Thursday, 09.03.2023, with the second leg a week later, on 16.03.2023, at Lotto Park in Anderlecht.

Tickets for both legs will be allocated by the drawing of lots among Union members. Club members can register online for the draw for the home leg of the tie from today at 15:00 until Tuesday, 28/02/2023 at 10:00.

Winners will then be able to book their ticket from Thursday (02/03/2023 at 12pm). Information on the draw for the tickets for the away match will follow shortly.

The other ties at a glance: