Out with applause: Union Berlin has ended the oppressive series of bankruptcies in Diego Maradona’s cauldron, but still has to pack its bags after the preliminary round on the historic journey through the top floor of European football. At SSC Naples on Wednesday, the Köpenickers fought to a 1-1 draw (0-1) after twelve competitive defeats – and yet their dream of reaching the round of 16 was shattered after four Champions League group games.
Striker David Fofana (52nd) scored Union’s first competitive goal since October 7th, an important point for morale. Matteo Politano (39th) had previously given Naples the lead. In Group C, the Berliners remain last with one point and can no longer overtake the second team from Naples (seven points) because the direct comparison is in favor of the Italians.
The fact is, however, that the last time the Berliners had not lost a competitive game was on August 26th in the league against Darmstadt 98 (4:1). The first small sense of success after the long series of bankruptcies should now give Union momentum for the relegation battle in the Bundesliga. There we go to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN).
Coach Urs Fischer had warned his team to enjoy the highlight game in Naples despite the “shitty” situation. “We will try everything to take points with us to Berlin,” said the Swiss, who brought five new points compared to the 3-0 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt. National player Robin Gosens and captain Christopher Trimmel had to make way to the wings, while Rani Khedira, who was banned from the league, pulled the strings in midfield.
Pyrotechnics fly into the Union block
While Union was good defensively at the beginning and struggled to get going offensively, the hosts’ fans caused unpleasant pictures in a heated atmosphere. While there had already been riots before the game, as a result of which eleven German fans were temporarily arrested, the Italian supporters threw firecrackers and flares towards the Union block during the first half.
On the pitch, the Berliners came under increasing pressure. First, Naples’ Piotr Zielinski (17th) forced Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow into a save before Natan (24th) headed the post from Politano’s cross. Union hardly managed to relieve the pressure in this phase – and were lucky: the first lead by Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa (30th) was called back due to foul play. When Politano chested Mario Rui’s cross into the goal, the Union defense was once again too late.
So little went together offensively that Trimmel’s replacement Josip Juranovic (45th + 7) had Berlin’s best chance with a free kick that hit the post. After the break, Union came out of the locker room more aggressively. Fofana initiated the equalizer himself on a counterattack when the Ivorian fed Sheraldo Becker and, after his unsuccessful shot attempt, pushed the rebound into the goal.
Becker (55th) almost scored a double blow, with the nimble dribbler poking a cross from Jerome Roussillon from the tackle past the goal. After that, the guests came under a lot of pressure again, but the horror series was at least ended.