Union Saint-Gilloise have used their humbling at the hands of Rangers to kickstart their season, according to boss Karel Geraerts.
The manager also revealed that the boost to his side's season was the catalyst for the Belgian clubs overtaking Scotland in the UEFA coefficients. Rangers ran out 3-0 victors when Union travelled to Ibrox despite their measly 2-0 loss in the first leg in Belgium. And the result meant that Gio van Bronckhorst 's side eventually qualified for the Champions League group stage, eliminating PSV Eindhoven on their path to glory.
However, the Govan outfit's group stage campaign has been nothing short of a disaster after five defeats from five with just one game to go. And the results mean that GVB's men are in danger of creating unwanted history by having the worst record of any team at this stage. In contrast, Union Saint-Gilloise have embarked on an incredible run in the Europa League group stages having won four out their five clashes in the competition so far.
Victories over the likes of Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin alongside giants such as Braga and Malmo means that Geraerts side have sealed their spot at the top of their group with a game to spare - helping Belgium move above Scotland into eighth place in the UEFA coefficient list.
And Geraerts puts it all down to that night in August in Glasgow. He said: "I often think back to that match at Rangers. We should never have lost 3-0 there.
"Honestly, we approached the second leg in Scotland exactly the same way as the first leg in Belgium. We fell to a defeat there without playing our kind of football. But I am a young coach and I have learned a lot from that night.
"Since then, we have won every game we have played away from home in Europe. The goal was to qualify, but guaranteeing first place with a game to go against teams of the standard of the leaders of the Bundesliga has been an incredible achievement."
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