This will be the first game between a Dutch and Belgian side in the UEFA Champions League since December 2009 (AZ 1-1 Standard Liège). Of the eight all-time meetings between clubs of the two nations in the European Cup/Champions League, Dutch sides have won on just one occasion (Ajax 2-0 Club Brugge in October 2003 – D3 L4).

PSV have played four previous games against Belgian sides in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, failing to win each match (D1 L3) – all against Anderlecht between 1991 and 2000.

Union Saint-Gilloise will play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history. The last Belgian side to win their first ever match in the European Cup/Champions League was RWD Molenbeek in 1975 (3-2 v Viking), with the last four debutants all failing to do so (D3 L1).

Union Saint-Gilloise are featuring in major European competition for a fourth consecutive season, having not appeared in a single campaign since 1964/65 beforehand.

In the 2024-25 edition, PSV were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the last 16 stage by Arsenal, losing 9-3 on aggregate. During that tie, they became the first side in competition history (since 1992-93) to concede seven goals at home in a knockout stage match.

PSV have lost their opening game in each of their previous four UEFA Champions League campaigns (2016-17, 2018-19, 2023-24 and 2024-25), conceding 12 goals and only scoring once in the process.

Union Saint-Gilloise boss Sébastien Pocognoli will be taking charge of a UEFA Champions League for the very first time – the Belgian played five games in the competition in the 2009/10 season for AZ in the group stage, with his one assist coming against Belgian opposition in Standard Liège.

Only Bayern Munich (8.4) had a lower PPDA average than PSV (9.6) in the UEFA Champions League last season, while only overall winners Paris SG (39) produced more shot-ending high turnovers in the previous edition than the Dutch side (29).

Union SG’s Kevin Mac Allister was the joint-top scoring defender in the UEFA Europa League last season (3 – level with Diogo Dalot and Alessio Romagnoli), and has scored in both of his away games in European competition in 2025 (two goals – v Rangers and Ajax).

Of players to make 10+ appearances in the UEFA Champions League last season, only Barcelona’s Marc Casadó (4.7) averaged more tackles per 90 than PSV’s Ismael Saibari (3.7). He also netted the joint-most goals for his side (3), while ranking first for tackles (30), second for duels won (54) and joint-second for possession won (44).