Standard de Liège vs Scottish sides, a story by Andrew Boyd

As a build up to the match, this weekend, away to Standard Liege I have had a look at the history of Standard against Scottish sides.
I always remember as a child that we knew of some Belgian sides - Anderlecht, RWD Molenbeek, Club Brugge and Standard.
Even today the name Standard can make people listen. As this report highlights they have a good record against teams from Scotland.

The first match Standard played in European competition was in the Champions Cup against Hearts, and resulted in a 5-1 home win for Standard. In the second tie Hearts recovered to win 2-1, but the damage was done and the Edinburgh side were defeated 6-3 on aggregate. The Standard goals were scored by; Jadot (2), Piters, Bonga, Houf with Givard the scorer at Tynecastle.

The next scottish opposition for Standard were Rangers. Again this was in the Champions Cup in 1961/62. In the first tie Standard won
4-1 with goals from Claessen, Crossan (2) and Viliers. Rangers attempts to rescue this tie were doomed to failure, although a 2-0 win
for the Glasgow side made the aggregate score seem a reasonable 4-3 in favour of Standard.

Aberdeen were to prove to be the next Standard victims in the 1967/68 Cup Winners Cup. Again Standard were to play at home in the first match and again they recorded a fine win. Aberdeen were defeated 3-0 with goals from Claessen, Cajou and Pilot. Again Standard failed to win the away match and Aberdeen recorded a 2-0 win. again Standard progressed with a 3-2 aggregate score.

The next Scottish side to play Standard are Dundee United inthe 1978/79 UEFA Cup. Again Standard were at home ? in the first game.  This home ? tie was played in Ghent at the home of La Gantoise. This was due to crowd trouble the previous season and resulted in Standard being ordered to play at least 90 miles from Liege. Standard, with coach Robert Waseige, won the first match with a goal from Mathieu Denier. The second tie at Tannadice finished without score and standard progressed 1-0 on aggregate. Standard then lost 2-5 on aggregate to Manchester City in the next round.

A pattern had developed and it was to continue with the next meeting between Standard and a Scottish side. Again Dundee United were the opposition and again Standard were to play at home first. In season 1983/84 in the Champions league Standard, led by Raymond Goethals, were held 0-0 in the first visit by Dundee United to De Sclessin. The return match was to prove something of a milestone in the history of Dundee Utd.

Two goals from Ralph Milne had United 2-0 ahead at half-time, with further goals from Hegarty and Dodds in the second half, meant the 50th tie in european competition played by Dundee United ended in a comfortable 4-0 win. Again Standard had failed to win in Scotland but, I think, the damage was done in the failure of Standard to score in Belgium. United had destroyed Standard and then continued to reach the semi-finals where they lost to AS Roma 2-3 on aggregate.

Hearts again were opposition for Standard in the 1992/93 UEFA Cup. This time Standard managed to win in Scotland and progressed 2-0 on aggregate. Standard had finally won both ties in a European competition against a Scottish side.

A few interesting names to give you from the Dundee United v Standard games are; Raymond Goethals (obviously!), Prued'Homme, Gerets, Poel, M. Denier, Tahamata, Meeuws, Vandermissen and Daerden. But let's not forget an unused substitute for Standard in the second game of the 1983/84 tie - Jean Marc Bosman! I wonder why he is famous?

This is by no means a complete history of Standard and any further information and photographs would be welcomed.

Andy