NYON, Switzerland — Bodo/Glimt, the surprise package of last season's Champions League, will begin their journey back to the prestigious tournament against Union Saint-Gilloise in the qualifying rounds. This matchup, highlighted in Monday's draw for the third qualifying round, features two well-managed, low-budget clubs in European football.

Bodo/Glimt's Ambitious Path

Last season, Bodo/Glimt, hailing from a Norwegian fishing town within the Arctic Circle, made headlines with an impressive run to the round of 16. Their campaign included remarkable victories over top clubs like Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan in January and February. This year, as the runner-up in the Norwegian league, they face an additional qualifying round, starting their campaign on August 4 or 5 in Brussels against Belgian league runner-up Union Saint-Gilloise.

The second leg will take place at Bodo/Glimt's home ground, the 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadium, on August 11. The winner of this tie will advance to the qualifying playoffs, with a coveted spot in the lucrative 36-team main phase of the Champions League on the line.

Other Notable Matchups

In other draws, Lyon has been paired with Sparta Prague, with the first leg set to be hosted in the Czech capital. Lyon is currently under the majority ownership of U.S. businesswoman Michele Kang. Additionally, Olympiakos, the 2024 Conference League champions, will face NEC Nijmegen, who surprised many by finishing third in the Dutch league last season.

The second qualifying round will also see Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze take on either Sturm Graz or Heart of Midlothian, with matches commencing on Tuesday. In a separate draw for national champions from lower-ranked leagues, Red Star Belgrade, the 1991 European Cup winners, will face Hapoel Beer-Sheva or Víkingur Reykjavík, provided they first overcome Larne from Northern Ireland in the second qualifying round.

As the Champions League qualifying rounds approach, teams are gearing up for a competitive battle for a place in the main tournament, promising an exciting summer of football.