Sheraldo Becker (r.) in a duel with Braga’s Ricardo Horta in October 2022 Photo: dpa-Bildfunk
By Sebastian Karkos
Home premiere! 1. FC Union welcomes Sporting Braga to the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday (6.45 p.m.).
It is the Iron Men’s first premier class game in Berlin. A club record is set. Almost 74,000 fans are expected. This game will be the biggest crowd the club has ever had at an official home game!
Union’s two previous record games took place in 1976 and 1978 in the World Youth Stadium in front of 45,000 spectators against BFC Dynamo (1:0/0:2) in the GDR Oberliga. So Braga means a new record! What else is important for the game against the Portuguese? BZ answers the most important questions.
► How many times will the two clubs meet? For the third time! Last season, both clubs dueled in the group stage of the Europa League. They were two very close games. The home team won each time 1-0. Braga coach Artur Jorge (51) warns: “We are playing against a fantastic opponent. It’s an important moment for us. Every game in the Champions League is crucial.”
► What speaks for a Union victory? After five competitive defeats in a row, not much at all. But: The crowd will inspire, and the opening game at Real Madrid (0-1) gave us self-confidence despite the defeat. Coach Urs Fischer (57) before the duel against Braga: “I’m really looking forward to this unusual game.” Caution: Braga, currently fifth in the table, currently has the best offensive department in Portugal with 18 goals. However, 13 goals conceded is the fifth worst value…
► What is the situation at Union in terms of personnel? Robin Knoche (31/ankle) and Rani Khedira (29/calf) are still missing – two painful losses.
► Where can I watch the game? The streaming service DAZN starts its broadcast at 6:15 p.m. Marco Hagemann (46) comments, Tim Borowski (43) is at the start as an expert. Alternatively, you can also follow the game in the BZ live ticker.
► Who will referee the game? The Serbian Srdjan Jovanovic (37) is leading his twelfth game in the Champions League at the Olympic Stadium, but only the second with German participation. Curious: In September 2021 there was also a German-Portuguese duel. At that time, Dortmund beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0. A good omen?