From BZ/dpa
At their premiere in the Champions League, the Union Berlin players enthusiastically received the drawn group opponents.
“I’m very satisfied, it’s a very attractive group. We can look forward to magical nights,” said vice-captain Rani Khedira on club television after the draw on Thursday evening. The newcomer in the premier class had previously been drawn in Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum in Group C with SSC Napoli, Real Madrid and SC Braga.
New signing Robin Goosens, who reached the final with Inter Milan last season and lost 1-0 to Manchester City, sees a difficult and at the same time interesting task for his new club.
“But at the same time I also believe that it’s a really wonderful group with three great away trips,” said the international. “I can speak Napoli from experience. A beautiful stadium with really great fans and a top team, Real speaks for itself. I haven’t been to Braga itself either.”
But his new teammates already know the Estadio Municipal in northern Portugal. In the last Europa League season, coach Urs Fischer’s team lost 1-0 in last year’s third-placed table in Portugal. Now it’s time for a reunion in the European premier class.
A spark of melancholy initially hovered around assistant coach Markus Hoffmann. “Unfortunately, there aren’t much stronger groups,” groaned the 51-year-old, happily adding: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to go to Madrid.”
The first match day takes place on 19./20. held in September. Then it goes on 3./4. and 24./25. October, 7th/8th and 28./29. November next. The last group game day takes place on 12./13. held in December. Union moves to the Olympic Stadium for the group games. This means that more than 74,000 fans can follow every game, significantly more than in the stadium at the Alte Försterei (22,012 seats). The 40,000 season tickets reserved for members as a combination package for all three group games quickly sold out.