RANGERS will have to break down one of the meanest defences in Belgian football when they come up against Union Saint-Gilloise in their Champions League qualifier.

The pair clash in the third qualifying round with the first leg taking place tomorrow night in Leuven given the Brussels outfit’s stadium doesn’t meet UEFA regulations.

Former Partick Thistle and Dundee United defender Frederic Frans played against Rangers' opponents last season when he lined up for Beerschot.

And he told the Rangers Review, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men are coming up against formidable opposition. 

He said: “Obviously Rangers are a much bigger club with a far bigger history and they’re the favourites by far but, on the other hand, Union have been a team that have been surprising people in the last few years.

“In three or four years they went from being an average team in the second league to become a bigger force in Belgian football. Since they were taken over, they’ve made some really good transfers, they have a good coaching staff and they’re getting results.

“They got promoted two seasons ago and then last year up till about two or three games before the end of the season they were first in the league. I think all of Belgium was hoping they would win the title but then, you know how it goes, there are teams like Brugge, who like Rangers, know how to win titles so in the end they always come through but Union surprised Belgian football.

“I played against them, it was like three games into the season. The season before we were the promoted team, we had a fantastic season and obviously, everyone expected us to win the game but they destroyed us 3-0. You could see that they were really good and had a lot of qualities.”

Union’s remarkable rise hasn’t gone unnoticed and they’ve since lost their coach Felice Mazzu to Anderlecht as well as star players Deniz Undav and Kaoru Mitoma who’ve returned to parent club Brighton after being loaned back to the Belgian’s last season.

Frans reckons Union’s loss is Rangers’ gain.

He said: “The assistant coach Karel Geraerts has taken over, he is an ex-player and had a good career as well so I’m guessing because he was the assistant he won’t try to change too much. He’ll probably add his own tweaks but in general, I think it will be more of the same.

“Undav who went to Brighton was the star man but then you still have the other striker Dante Vanzeir, he’s very fast and a very good player who can score goals.

“They lost two of their better players in Undav and Mitoma as well as Casper Nielsen who was a very good midfielder, he’s gone to Brugge.

“But on the other hand, they’ve got a good framework. They’ve got a very good defence and good midfield players so they were very solid last season and upfront a few players made a big difference.

“I’m not sure how the replacements will do but I think they’ll fit into the same framework that is a solid foundation playing counter football and I’m guessing the players they bought will try to fit in with their philosophy.”

The first leg will be played 30km away from Union’s home ground at the Den Dreef, the stadium of OH Leuven.

“That will help Rangers,” Frans said.

“It won’t help Union because their stadium is old but it’s so special and they have great fans. It’s a very special atmosphere when you go there. It’s very old school and nostalgic so it’s really nice to play there so I’m thinking it’ll be a disadvantage for them that they aren’t playing there.

“I think Rangers will try to win in Belgium but never underestimate Union. They’re so solid, they have such a good base and they’re a team who are very hard to beat. The only thing I don’t know is how easy they’re going to score goals this season.

“It won’t be easy for Rangers but, if I’m honest, I can’t see Rangers not getting past them.”