For the first time under coach Urs Fischer, Union Berlin is in crisis. And yet the next big highlight awaits the Köpenickers: On Tuesday, the Italian champions SSC Napoli come to the Olympic Stadium in the Champions League.
Five facts about the game
- Union Berlin is still waiting for its first points in the Champions League. Both at real Madrid (0:1) and against Sporting Braga (2:3) there were late defeats.
- SSC Napoli won their opening game in Braga 2-1. The Italians suffered a narrow 2-3 defeat against Real Madrid.
- Napoli have won seven of their last nine games in the Champions League group stage.
- Not only are Union and Naples meeting each other for the first time, for the Köpenick team it is even the first competitive game ever against an Italian team.
- 3,400 tickets were sold for the Naples fan block, the home section is sold out. A total of around 72,000 people are expected in the Olympic Stadium.
Union Berlin has lost its basic principles
The 3-0 loss against VfB Stuttgart was well deserved. Because it once again showed how poorly the previously strong Union defense defended this season. 1. FC Union Berlin is looking for its sporting identity. By Till Oppermannmore
That’s what moves Union
The 1. FC Union Berlin is in crisis for the first time in years. The defeat at the weekend against the VfB Stuttgart was already the eighth bankruptcy in a row. The Köpenickers set a 19-year-old negative record. The last time the Iron Men suffered so many defeats in one go was in 2004 – during the regional league era.
“It doesn’t look good at the moment, but nevertheless we have to accept the situation as it is,” said Urs Fischer after the game against Stuttgart. It’s also a completely new situation for the coach since he’s been in Berlin. After all, he and his team have literally floated through the competitions in recent years.
Accordingly, the trust in Fischer at the club is still great. “We are absolutely ready to take this path together. He knows that too and he also knows that support,” said manager Oliver Ruhnert despite the negative series. A timely success – perhaps in the Champions League – would probably give Fischer, the team and the entire club a little more peace and security.
This is Union’s Champions League opponent SSC Napoli
A few months after the long-awaited championship, there is a lot of unrest at SSC Napoli. Union Berlin will face a coach in the Champions League on Tuesday evening who urgently needs to win. By Till Oppermannmore
The opponent check
SSC Napoli is no less than the Italian champions of the previous season. In May, a long drought ended for the club from southern Italy: after 33 years, Naples secured the title again. The club and the city celebrated for weeks, but then suddenly they were faced with a new beginning. Master coach Luciano Spalletti and squad planner Cristiano Giuntoli left the club together in the summer. The Frenchman Rudi Garcia was brought in to replace Spalletti. However, the 59-year-old has so far fallen short of the increased expectations and is already under criticism and on the brink early in the season: after nine games, Naples are in fourth place, five points behind league leaders Inter Milan.
The win at Hellas Verona (3:1) gave him some breathing room last weekend. The Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored two goals and now has three goals and four assists. The striker, who moved to Naples in the summer of 2022, played his way into the hearts of the fans within a very short time. Starting striker Victor Osimhen also has a permanent place there. And that despite the fact that there has been trouble between the 24-year-old high flyer from last season and his club for months. Osimhen was denied a move in the summer, contract negotiations stalled and Osimhen recently had three more Stress with the social media department of the club.
A Neapolitan drama that will only marginally affect 1. FC Union: Osimhen is injured for the away game in Berlin.
Union Berlin sets a 19-year-old negative record
1. FC Union’s negative series continues and reaches historic proportions: the Köpenick team lost 3-0 against VfB Stuttgart. It was the eighth competitive defeat in a row. The last time this happened was in 2004 during the regional league era.more
That’s what Urs Fischer says
Fischer: “We have achieved our goals together and celebrated successes over the last few years. Now things are a bit stormy. […] I don’t worry about what might happen in two or three weeks, but rather focus on the here and now. The task is Napoli. […] It’s another attempt we’re making to get back on track.”
This is how Union could play
Sheraldo Becker should have a good chance of being in the starting eleven. The 28-year-old initially sat on the bench in the 3-0 defeat against Stuttgart, but against Naples his speed could be important, especially on the counterattack. It is also conceivable that the somewhat more robust Aïssa Laïdouni will be preferred over Lucas Tousart.
There is still a small question mark over the use of full-back Robin Gosens. The 29-year-old was actually supposed to take part in the press conference on Monday before the game. After training, however, Gosens remained on the massage bench and “under treatment, that is still being clarified,” said coach Fischer. “But I’m really very positive that things will work with Robin tomorrow,” he emphasized.
Union’s possible starting eleven: Rönnow – Doekhi, Knoche, Diogo Leite – Trimmel, R. Khedira, Gosens – Laidouni, Haberer – Becker, K. Behrens
Prognosis
It’s not just because of their current weak form that 1. FC Union Berlin goes into the game against Naples as underdogs. The Italians are a different breed and come to Berlin with a certain amount of pressure. However, the SSC’s dominant possession football could come in handy for the Fischer team. Union should play cautiously at the beginning and hope for a counterattack. If Union – unlike so often in recent weeks – gets a little lucky and has a good day, a surprise could be possible.
Editor’s tip: Union fights for a 1-1 draw.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, October 23rd, 3:15 p.m
