The teams are out at Lotto Park and kick-off is mere moments away.

Kieran Trippier starts for Newcastle tonight and becomes the first Englishman over the age of 35 to play a Champions League game from the off since since James Milner, who was 37 when he started for Liverpool against Real Madrid in March 2023.

Ian Rush and Stuart Pearce are the only other players aged 35 or over to begin a Champions League match for the Magpies.

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Before tonight's matches get started, some exciting news to bring you...

BBC Sport has signed a five-year deal to broadcast live Women's Champions League matches from this season.

The contract, which runs until 2030, means up to seven live matches - including the final - will be available to watch each season across BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Other matches will include both legs of one semi-final and four matches from earlier in the competition.

The best moments from other games will also be available across BBC Sport's digital platforms and social media.

Manchester United's match with Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford on 12 November will be the first game to be shown on the BBC, followed by Chelsea's meeting with Spanish giants Barcelona on 20 November.

BBC Radio 5 Live will continue to bring live commentary of the biggest games throughout the season.

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Newcastle are in the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and while fans will remember the raucous St James' Park atmospheres under the light and a brilliant 4-1 win over Paris St-Germain a couple of years ago, the Magpies have struggled in Europe's premier club competition.

In fact, that win over PSG in October 2023 is their only win in their last nine Champions League matches.

Of the other eight, they have drawn three and lost five - including a 2-1 home loss to Barcelona on matchday one.

They have won 32% of their games in the competition (8/25), with Blackburn (17%) the only English side with a lower win ratio.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter

It is not exactly packed here 15 minutes before kick-off.

But many supporters could potentially be coming straight from work and Union usually play in front of a capacity of 9,400.

However, the Union ultras gathered up in the gods are making plenty of noise and have not stopped singing to the beat of their drum.

The away end have even joined in with one familiar tune as they serenade midfielder Sandro Tonali.

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BBC Sport's Emma Smith and Ciaran Kelly have been looking at the two Englishmen who will be out to stop Newcastle in Belgium tonight...

As a history graduate who studied World War One, Union Saint-Gilloise captain Christian Burgess knows more than most about the importance of Belgian resilience in the face of a richer opponent with greater resources.

"I specialised in one of the small reasons the war happened - Belgium were basically protected by the UK and, when they were invaded, it was another reason for the UK to go to war," he told BBC Sport.

For a history buff, the region is fascinating - Burgess says just travelling around there are "monuments that you constantly drive past which remind you of the First and Second World Wars".

And, in keeping with the region's tenacity, his own career has also been a study in upsetting the odds - he admits to never truly expecting to be playing in the Champions League.

When he faced PSV on 16 September he was, at the age of 33 years and 344 days, the oldest English outfield player to make his Champions League debut since Steve Bould for Arsenal in November 1998.

However, both Union Saint-Gilloise and their captain will be ready for their home debut in the competition even if they go in as underdogs when they host Premier League heavyweights Newcastle United on 1 October.

"When I was a kid, I just remember watching the Champions League. I remember the final in Istanbul, watching Liverpool," he said.

"I remember Chelsea-Barcelona with Ronaldinho's special goal. They're the sort of memories that stay with you and there is no way I ever thought I would be playing in that competition and for it to happen this late is very surreal."

Kick-off is fast approaching, the Newcastle players are being put through their paces in the warm-up and the atmosphere is building at Lotto Park...

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English sides have won nine of their previous 11 away games against Belgian opponents in the UEFA Champions League (D1 L1), with Aston Villa’s defeat at Club Brugge in November 2024 (0-1) being the only English defeat in this run.

That stat should certainly encourage Newcastle. This one on the other hand...

The last Belgian side to lose their first home match in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League was K. Lierse SK in October 1960 (0-3 v Barcelona). Since then, none of the last six have suffered defeat (W3 D3).

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at Lotto Park

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Eddie Howe was certainly not nursing a hangover following the dramatic defeat against Arsenal.

The Newcastle United head coach was so eager to get started that he even arrived into the media suite a minute early for his news conference ahead of Wednesday's match versus Union Saint-Gilloise.

Rather than sensing an adverse reaction to the weekend sucker punch, Howe instead said it should be a motivator for his side to "come back stronger" - and it needs to be.

Union may be Champions League debutants, but Newcastle cannot afford to just turn up against the Belgian champions, who beat PSV convincingly in their first ever game in the competition earlier this month.

And there was no danger of Howe and his staff underestimating Union following a quick turnaround from the weekend.

As well as personally reviewing his opponent, as always, Howe has familiarised his side with their new surroundings by training at Lotto Park on the eve of the game.

Howe did not always feel the need to do so when Newcastle last sat at Europe's top table a couple of years ago.

But this trip to Brussels feels significant as Newcastle look to rediscover some momentum and get their European campaign up and running.

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Union Saint-Gilloise may be new to the Champions League, but they have taken to it with aplomb, winning their first match 3-1 at PSV Eindhoven.

In fact, the Belgian side are unbeaten in 10 matches - winning eight and drawing two in all competitions, and have won their last five.

Their only defeat this season was in their very first game, the Belgian Super Cup, which they lost 2-1 to Club Brugge, who proved themselves to be no mugs in last season's Champions League.

Newcastle, meanwhile, suffered late heartbreak, losing their last Premier League game with the last kick at home to Arsenal, and went down by the same scoreline - 2-1 - at home to Barcelona in their Champions League opener.

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It has been a difficult start to the season for Newcastle.

Just six points from six league games, more last-minute home defeats than wins and an attack shorn of its star striker struggling to score goals.

There are signs that Nick Woltemade can help address the latter issue but as we head into October, Eddie Howe's side could really do with a win.

Losing at home to Barcelona is no disgrace but anything less than a win this evening at Union Saint-Gilloise and the pressure will increase in the Champions League as well.

An important night for the Magpies as they take on the Belgian champions. A victory could be all they need to get their season back on track.

Right then, the stage is set in Brussels so, with around 35 minutes until kick-off, we'd best get stuck into that one...

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Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

There was plenty of scepticism when the Swiss system was brought into the Champions League but one thing it was supposed to do was provide more blockbuster matches in the league phase.

Well, we have certainly got one tonight as Hansi Flick's dazzling Barcelona side host Luis Enrique's defending champions Paris St-Germain, perhaps the only side to out-dazzle Barca in last year's competition.

With work on the Camp Nou still ongoing, this mouth-watering match will be played Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Perhaps the only slight disappointment for neutrals is that not all the big-hitters will be involved as PSG arrive in Catalonia without the injured Marquinhos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele.

That's good news for Barcelona, as is the return to fitness of teenager sensation Lamine Yamal, who returned from a back injury at the weekend and is in line for his first Champions League minutes of the season.

Whether that is from the start or not, we will have to wait and see. Either way, expectations are high for this one...

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Sticking with the Manchester City theme...

Kevin de Bruyne has not managed to get going in this year's Champions League yet.

Against City last time out, he was sacrificed after just 26 minutes when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off. Not quite the return he would have wanted to the Etihad.

Tonight he makes his first European appearance at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Away from the continent, he has scored three Serie A goals this season.

Can he get off the mark in Europe this evening?

In Manchester City's opening-match victory over Napoli, Erling Haaland broke another record by becoming the quickest player to score 50 Champions League goals.

Haaland took only 49 games to reach the milestone with former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy previously holding the record at 62 games.

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There's still room for improvement for Manchester City this season but one positive thing for them has been the return of Phil Foden to somewhere near his best.

Having won Player of the Year in 2023-24 he dropped off somewhat last season.

But this year seems to be nearing the heights that saw him clinch that award which will certainly be a welcome sight for City fans.

He has scored two goals and created two assists in his six appearances so far this season.

Last time out in the Champions League - against Napoli - Foden created eight chances.

After victory over Napoli in their opening game, Manchester City are in Monaco this evening hoping to maintain their winning start in this season's Champions League.

And a couple of their most important players are looking like they're in the sort of form to make that happen...

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter in Brussels

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Newcastle United supporters have travelled in numbers.

Newcastle were only given a relatively small allocation for this game against Union Saint-Gilloise, but a strong contingent have made their way over to Brussels - even if they won’t all be physically in Lotto Park come kick-off this evening.

The travelling support have set up camp at a fan zone at Place De La Bourse and locals have been treated to hits from Sam Fender, Busker and Status Quo from the nearby speakers. That may well be a first here.

These were the trips that once felt an unimaginable prospect for Geordies not so long ago, but Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League in two of the last three seasons and this feels like a night where they can show they belong at Europe’s top table.

It certainly won’t be easy, however, against the Belgian champions.

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Olympiacos have only scored one goal in their last six Champions League matches, despite attempting 51 shots across those outings and hitting the target 11 times.

Unless they find their scoring boots, they face a tough test against Arsenal.

"We must be courageous against such a strong opponent," Olympiacos boss Jose Luis Mendilibar.

"Even when you’re well prepared, sometimes the pressure makes it difficult to respond. But there’s a difference between Arsenal pushing us back and us not even trying to play our game.

"I hope it won’t be the latter – we need to play with bravery and keep doing what Olympiacos have done since I’ve been here.

"We can’t lose our heads. We need to stay calm. If all we do is focus on how good the opponent is, then we might as well have stayed in Piraeus. It would be risky to change our style because we wouldn’t know how to do it properly. So, we’ll stick to what we know best."