Newcastle United take on Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday and here is everything fans need to know about the fixture and Brussels.

The Champions League is back and Newcastle United are looking to get their first points on the board in the big 36-team table.

Eddie Howe’s side put in a spirited display in their opening match against Barcelona, but it wasn’t enough as the better side beat them 2-1.

That’s exactly what happened in the weekend’s defeat to Arsenal, too, so Newcastle need to bounce back strongly in Belgium.

Here’s everything fans need to know for their first European away day of the season.

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Union Saint-Gilloise summer signings

Union SG had a difficult summer as they saw several of their top stars depart and were unable to spend vast sums of money in replacing them.

Top strikers Franjo Ivanovic and Mohamed Amoura were sold to Benfica and Wolfsburg, respectively, while midfield maestro Noah Sadiki was snapped up by Sunderland.

Charles Vanhoutte, Koki Machida, Alessio Castro-Montes and Dennis Eckert Ayensa were all sold, too, while only seven new players came in.

After raising nearly €70m in sales, they only spent €17.15m on new players and here’s who:

• Raul Florucz – Striker – NK Olimpija – €5m
• Adem Zorgane – Midfielder – R Charleroi SC – €4.3m
• Louis Patris – Right-back – Sint-Truiden – €3.8m
• Kjell Scherpen – Goalkeeper – Brighton – €2m
• Rob Schoofs – Midfielder – KV Mechelen – €1.4m
• Guilherme Smith – Winger – Kalju FC – €400,000
• Ivan Pavlic – Midfielder – Pacos Ferreira €250,000

Union Saint-Gilloise’s recent form

Despite losing several of their best players, Union SG have remained a brilliant side and are undefeated in the league after nine games.

They sit top of the table, six points ahead of Club Brugge, having won seven of their matches and drawn just two.

SG defeated Antonio Cordero’s Westerlo 2-0 at the weekend and have beaten Gent, Standard Liege, Anderlecht and Genk, too.

Sebastien Pocognoli’s side also got off to a winning start in the Champions League, smashing PSV Eindhoven 3-1 away. They will be no pushovers for Newcastle.

Union Saint-Gilloise’s Champions League squad

Here is Union SG’s 32-man Champions League squad:

Goalkeepers: Vic Chambaere, Kjell Scherpen, Adriaan van Etten

Defenders: Mamadou Barry, Kevin Mac Allister, Kamiel Van de Perre, Christian Burgess, Ross Sykes, Louis Patris, Fedde Leysen

Midfielders: Mathias Rasmussen, Adem Zorgane, Anouar El Hadj, Rob Schoofs, Marc Giger, Ousseynou Niang, Sofiane Boufal, Anass El Marabet, Franciszek Zabrowarny, Nathan Huybevelde, Mateo Delph, Youssef HJamoutahar, Mohamed Asri

Forwards: Guilherme Smith, Promise David, Kevin Rodriguez, Anan Khalaili, Raul Florucz, Sekou Keita, Soulaimane Berradi, Pedro Pinto.

Lotto Park address for Union SG vs Newcastle United

As their actual home ground of Stade Joseph Marien does not meet UEFA’s requirements, Union SG are forced to play their home European games at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park instead.

Here is the address for the stadium:

• Lotto Park
• Av. Theo Verbeeck 2
• 1070 Anderlecht
• Brussels
• Belgium

Supporters getting a taxi to the stadium should head to the drop-off point ‘Square Egide Rombaux’, while those using the metro should disembark at EEWEYDE station, which is 1km from the stadium.

Fans have been advised to avoid the Anderlecht area around Lotto Park before and after the game.

Bars in Brussels for Newcastle United fans

Fans have been advised to gather and socialise in the city centre rather than in Anderlecht, with the La Bourse area of the city centre in particular recommended.

There are plenty of bars in the area, including:

• O’Reilly’s Bar
• Les Brasseurs
• The Big Game
• Downtown Brussels
• Monoh Bar
• nua party bar
• Affligem Brussels

A fanzone for Newcastle fans has also been set up, in Place de la Bourse, centred around O’Reilly’s Bar. The fan zone is open from 5pm on Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday.

Weather in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday and Wednesday

Newcastle fans appear to have got lucky with the weather in Brussels this week.

There is 0% chance of rain on either day, with sunny intervals and light wind set for Tuesday, with highs of 18 degrees.

Wednesday is even nicer with a sunny day in store and highs of 19 degrees.