Union Berlin has moved into the second round of the Europa League. In the evening, the Berliners won 1-0 at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. Sven Michel became the man of the evening with his winning goal.
1. FC Union Berlin has made it into the second round of the Europa League. The Köpenickers won their away game at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 1-0 (1-0) on Thursday evening and thus secured progress in the second highest European competition. Striker Sven Michel paved the way for Union’s fourth Europa League win in a row with his goal in the sixth minute.
Michel scores an early lead
The evening in Belgium began with bad news for Union Berlin: the lawsuit filed by the Köpenickers in an urgent procedure against the entry ban for German fans in Leuven was rejected. Coach Urs Fischer’s team had to manage almost entirely without the support of their usually loud fans.
Although in the stadium on Thursday, Union striker Jordan Siebatcheu was initially on the bench. Coach Fischer relied on Sven Michel in his place in the first eleven and also rotated Christopher Trimmel and Genki Haraguchi into the starting lineup for Timoteusz Puchacz and Andras Schäfer.
Less than six minutes were played when Fischer’s adjustments promptly paid off. After a fine and accurate cross from Sheraldo Becker from the right half field, Sven Michel was spot on at the penalty spot. Half falling, half lying, Michel stretched out, caught the ball with his right foot and put it into the Belgian goal to take the lead 1-0.
Game becomes more competitive
As a result, Union was the better team. Although the Köpenickers let their hosts do the game, they were very alert and consistent on the defensive and in the transition game. After a corner from Trimmel, Doekhi narrowly missed making it 2-0 with a header (14th minute), before a shot from around 25 meters by Becker also went over the goal a little more clearly (21st).
After that, the game became both more intense and competitive. The game was now characterized by playful inaccuracies and a few fouls, but also by the Belgians, who were now playing a little better. Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow parried the first shot on goal in the 24th minute. Shortly before half-time, the focus was again on the Dane: the Union defensive escaped and Saint-Gilloise’s Simon Adingra appeared completely free in front of Rönnow. However, he reacted strongly, making any discussions about an alleged offside position superfluous and ensuring that Union went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half then began with a surprise: Instead of the Danish player Rönnow, Lennart Grill was now in goal for the guests. Union goalkeeper suffered a thigh injury in the first half. In the 51st minute, Grill promptly misjudged a Belgian cross and was lucky that Adingra didn’t hit the Köpenicker’s goal from half left outside the penalty area.
Becker misses the 2-0
Shortly thereafter, Grill did his job better: Union goalkeeper was there when Bart Nieuwkoop, who came dangerously onto the near post from the right, took a direct shot. Overall the game was balanced. Saint-Gilloise had slight advantages in possession, while Union kept to the bare minimum and the typical lurking. Quite successfully: After an extension with a header from the strong Michel, Becker ran freely towards the guest goalkeeper Anthony Moris, who, however, made a strong save (61′).
Three changes followed for the Berliners (Andras Schäfer, Morten Thorsby and Kevin Behrens for Haraguchi, Haberer and Michel) and a phase with a lot of uncertainty on both sides, which was offset by few scoring chances. With one exception: Shortly before the end, things got dicey again in the Union penalty area. When the guests shot, however, Robin Knoch saved just before the line, so that the important 1-0 win for Union and entry into the intermediate round remained.
Heavyweights are waiting in the intermediate round
In the second round of the Europa League that follows, Union Berlin, as the runners-up in the group, will now meet one of the third-placed teams who have been eliminated from the Champions League. These include well-known clubs such as FC Barcelona, Juventus Turin and Ajax Amsterdam. In the first and second leg, it is then about the entry into the round of 16.
Broadcast: rbb24, November 3rd, 2022, 6 p.m
