1. FC Union Berlin’s historic first Champions League season ends without a win. Despite taking the lead, the Köpenick team lost 2:3 (1:0) to Real Madrid. As the last team in Group C, they also miss out on wintering in the Europa League.
The 1. FC Union Berlin missed the sensation. The Köpenickers were able to dream briefly against Real Madrid, but in the end they deservedly lost 2:3 (1:0). Kevin Volland gave new coach Nenad Bjelica’s team a 1-0 lead (45th + 2), but Joselu turned the game around after the break for the record European Cup winners from Spain (61st, 73rd). Alex Kral was able to equalize again with a long-range shot (85th), but Dani Ceballos decided the game for the guests.
1. FC Union is eliminated last in Group C, Real Madrid is the first to move into the round of 16 with the optimal score of 18 points.
Complicated starting position for Union
Before the game, the starting position for the Köpenickers was as clear as it was complicated: in order to be able to survive the winter in the Europa League, the historic first Champions League three-pointer had to be achieved against Real Madrid. But that alone wasn’t enough to achieve table happiness. At the same time, a win for SSC Napoli against Sporting Braga – in third place with a two-point lead before the game – was a must.
Bjelica had primarily revived the offensive at the end of the Köpenick winless marathon against Gladbach on Saturday. But he now had to do without a crucial piece of the puzzle: wing spinner and goalscorer Benedict Hollerbach was missing because he is not on the Köpenicker squad list for the premier class. Meanwhile, Real rotated as expected. With 15 points and a secure progression, coach Carlo Ancelotti changed to five positions. Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, among others, ended up on the bench, while Jude Bellingham started.
Union gets off to a lightning start, then Real takes over
1. FC Union almost got off to a dream start against the newly assembled Royals: Less than a minute had been played when the hosts forced a ‘very dangerous’ loss of the ball and Rani Khedira played free for Kevin Behrens at the penalty spot. However, he aimed – completely free-standing – so centrally at Real keeper Kepa that he was able to direct the ball over the crossbar. It was the symbol of a courageous start, but it only lasted two minutes and another good opportunity for Jaeckel.
After that, the Spanish record champions sorted themselves out and from then on almost exclusively had the ball. The relief for the Köpenick team decreased, and the danger of the guests increased from minute to minute. FCU keeper Frederik Rönnow made a brilliant save against Bellingham (10th), Dani Ceballos shot past the goal from a distance to the right (12th) and then it got really close: a header from ex-Bundesliga professional Joselu landed on the crossbar (16th). .
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Volland hits out of nowhere
A Madrid in joy of playing now let Union run – and mostly behind. A good 80 percent of ball possession was statistical proof of the oppressive dominance of the Spanish passing machine. However, it only became dangerous again in the final phase of the first half: first Joselu shot narrowly past the corner after a disaster pass from Robin Gosens (42nd), then Union defender Diogo Leite clearly stopped a cross with his arm: the undoubted one However, Luka Modric not only shot a penalty into the middle of the goal, but also against Rönnow’s legs (45th).
While Madrid failed to capitalize on many chances, 1. FC Union took advantage of their second of the game in direct response. Kevin Volland celebrated a 1-0 win for the hosts – and that because David Alaba made a mistake. Instead of clearing a header from Behrens towards his strike partner, Alaba set up ideally for Volland, who gave Kepa no chance from around ten meters. Union celebrated and suddenly found itself in the qualifying place for the Europa League in the lightning table because Braga was already 2-0 behind in Naples.
Rönnow shines, but Joselu equalizes
The second half started like the first: with a good opportunity for 1. FC Union. This time it was Gosens who couldn’t take advantage of Josip Juranovic’s cross because he headed past the crossbar (47′). And the spectators of the game had already experienced what happened afterwards. Real took control. Rönnow was now increasingly the center of attention in the FCU goal: first he cleared a long-range shot from Lucas Vazquez (50th), then he made a world-class save to prevent Rodrygo from making it 1-1, who had a free header from three (!) meters was.
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Union’s forays forward were now rare again. To be more precise, there was another one: In the 56th minute, Kepa Volland almost invited his second goal, but was able to hold on to the ball while stumbling. Then what happened was what had been foreshadowed for large parts of the game: Joselu headed in from Rodrygo’s cross to make it 1-1. The fact that he was clearly supporting himself did not prevent the referee – after checking by the VAR – from recognizing the goal (61′), despite protests from the hosts.
Union with last minute knockout
The guests from Spain then remained in control. 1. FC Union needed a win to survive the winter in Europe, but they were no longer able to get dangerously close to Real’s goal. On the contrary. It was the record champion who was able to improve. Instead of Rodrygo, Fran Garcia crossed from the left, the taker in the middle was the same: Joselu headed in to make it 2-1 for the Madrilenians (73′).
Union was now knocked out – and came back again: Alex Kral made it 2-2 from a distance (85th). But that still shouldn’t be the end of a wild final phase. Real Madrid had the better end: Ceballos’ deflected shot made it 3-2 for the Spaniards (88th).
It should be the end point. Real Madrid finished the group stage for the third time in the club’s history with the optimal score of 18 points (shared record with Bayern Munich). For Union Berlin, the journey through Europe is now over.
The game in the live ticker
Broadcast: rbb24, December 12, 2023, 9:45 p.m
