The 1. FC Union Berlin traveling squad began their first trip through the Champions League at iconic locations. Very close to the elegant team hotel, the Union fans met at the Puerta del Sol and made a discreet racket. In the square in front of the regional government headquarters there is a stone that marks the “Kilómetro cero”: the nucleus of Spain’s radial road system. In the evening, the Union team found itself at another “kilometer zero”, the “kilometer zero” of the Champions League.
At the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home of the 14-time record winner. The Berliners’ premier class debut left a bitter aftertaste. After the Union team had held out against Real Madrid until the fourth minute of stoppage time, the home team managed a 1-0 victory with an absurd goal. Real Madrid is and remains Real Madrid.
Union coach Urs Fischer had to rebuild the defense out of necessity. Robin Knoche had to stay at home injured. That made for a celebrity debut at Union: The Italian Leonardo Bonucci, who had only been allowed to warm up at Union, directed the defense. It may be that this gave the five Champions League debutants in Union’s ranks security. As of Wednesday, Bonucci had made 84 appearances in the world’s most important club competition and had already played five times against Real Madrid alone. The last time was in 2015, on the last leg before the final in Berlin, which Juventus lost to FC Barcelona. But perhaps that was an inappropriate or exaggerated interpretation. Because if there was something wrong with Union right from the start and right up until the end, it was rosy-cheeked or shy.
On the contrary. “It takes a lot of courage today,” Fischer said before the game began, and words like that must have been spoken in the dressing room. As early as the third minute, the Berliners made people sit up and take notice. Bonucci opened up the field with a deep pass to Sheraldo Becker, and had Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger not been on guard, Kevin Behrens would have had a great chance.
Former Bundesliga professionals try out for Real Madrid against strong Unioners
What followed were two headers from former Bundesliga professional Joselu (Hoffenheim/Eintracht Frankfurt), who gave meaning to the crosses from Jude Bellingham (3rd) and Lucas Vázquez. And a defensive performance from Berlin that ennobled the match plan of Urs Fischer and his coaching team. Union played without complexes and – despite all their fixation on the defense – also played forward with well-tempered courage.
Union were able to narrow the spaces so carefully that Real became increasingly desperate. Lucas Tousart, who made his starting debut, and Alex Kral patrolled the defensive midfield so reliably and vigilantly that the Madrilenians could hardly think of anything. The ex-Dortmund Bellingham, whom the press in Madrid glorified as the new Zidane because of his jersey with the number 5 on the back and the good start to the season, hardly took place.
The picture changed shortly after half-time when Real’s Rodrygo reminded him that he was also on the pitch. First, after a lob from Vázquez, he ran towards Rönnow and shot the Union goalkeeper in the chest from close range (51′); A few seconds later he scissored the ball onto the post. In the 63rd minute, another “Uyyyy” echoed through the Bernabéu because Joselus’ header was spectacularly slapped onto the post by Rönnöw (63′). Rönnow was present again six minutes later when he directed a 20-meter shot from Luka Modric over the crossbar (69th).
Sheraldo Becker (center) and his Berliners really didn’t need to be ashamed of their appearance.
(Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
At this point, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti had realized that, despite the chances, his team lacked organizing ideas and feet: Fede Valverde and Toni Kroos were substituted. Only then did the game definitely turn into a defensive battle for the Berliners.
The Unioners survived two more situations that caused heart palpitations. Joselu shot in the penalty area against the hand that Union defender Danilho Doekhi was using to support himself, which prompted protests from the Madrilenians. The Norwegian Espen Eskes continued playing. Then Joselu narrowly missed the target with a shot on the move (83′).
But the punchline turned out to be fatal: after a short corner, the ball landed at Valverde, whose shot bounced off substitute Paul Jäckel’s shin onto Kral’s calf and back again before Bellingham hit the ball over the line into the empty space for the winning goal was able to press the goal. Even though the pinball hit may have been a stab in the heart, the Union fans in the north stand still celebrated their team in the style of the house: with a lot of pride.