Rangers’ Champions League third round qualifying tie against Union Saint-Gilloise will have an added extra sprinkle of spice from the stands.
Sometimes you can't script it and USG's Ultras will sound rather familiar to Rangers' city rivals. Yes, Saint-Gilloise's diehard contingent are called the, wait for it, Union Bhoys. Celtic aren't the only team who adds the H. The Union Bhoys vs The Union Bears, the main storyline is on the pitch, of course, but that adds a little intrigue in the stands to see who can bring the noise. The Union Bhoys are named in tribute to Celtic. Members can often be seen in Celtic strips belting out the club chant, Toute ma vie je resterai un Unioniste" (I'll be a Unionist till I die).
The group has been in existence for two decades. They know their puns as well, naming their fanzine “Bhoy Zone". If they weren’t already, Hoops fans will have added reason to be rooting for Union to do the business and dump Gio van Bronckhorst’s side out of the competition at the first hurdle.
Ange Postecoglou’s side will go straight into the group stage, boosting their coffers to the tune of £40million. But now the Parkhead faithful will have an extra interest in the qualifying rounds after the Gers were paired with the Belgian Pro League outfit. There will no doubt be a few in green and white hoops in the away end at Ibrox when Saint-Galloise come calling on Tuesday, August 9.
The Scottish Cup winners travel to Belgium the week before for the first leg. Rangers are well used to Belgian opposition by now. They faced both Royal Antwerp and Standard Liege in previous Europa League campaigns, beating both.
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