Union Berlin Must Get First-ever Champions League Win Against Madrid For A Chance To Stay In Europe – News18

BERLIN: Union Berlin has by no means received a Champions League sport. To have any hope of extending its participation in European competitors this season, it must beat 14-time European champion Real Madrid on Tuesday.

A win over Madrid — which is already assured of topping Group C — coupled with a loss for Braga at Napoli within the different group sport would carry Union above the Portuguese facet into third place within the group and safe the comfort prize of a spot within the Europa League.

There’s no comfort for ending backside of the group, the place Union finds itself with simply two factors after failing to beat 10-man Braga in its earlier sport.

That 1-1 attract new Union coach Nenad Bjelica’s debut stretched the German staff’s winless streak to 16 video games throughout all competitions, however Union lastly ended that confidence-shattering run on Saturday within the Bundesliga towards Borussia Mönchengladbach by 3-1.

Madrid, in the meantime, has received each sport within the competitors up to now and is seeking to full an ideal group stage for the third time after 2011 and 2014.

“We shouldn’t praise Real Madrid too much. Everyone knows what they mean in world soccer,” Bjelica stated.

The distinction between the golf equipment might hardly be better. Madrid, the custom-steeped Spanish behemoth, has received the European Cup a file 14 occasions, whereas Union was promoted to the Bundesliga for the primary time solely in 2019 and is enjoying for the primary time within the Champions League after an inconceivable fourth-place end in Germany final season.

Many Union followers anticipated the staff’s success to proceed this season, however the arrival of effectively-identified names corresponding to Leonardo Bonucci, Robin Gosens and Kevin Volland within the offseason didn’t have the specified impact as Union’s defensive stability crumbled and the staff misplaced its effectivity in assault.

Coach Urs Fischer, who led the staff to promotion in 2019, paid the value and was changed by Bjelica.

Volland opened the scoring towards Gladbach with a penalty — arguably the one approach the house staff was going to attain — earlier than little-identified gamers Benedict Hollerbach and Mikkel Kaufmann grabbed their first Bundesliga targets to finish Union’s winless run. Neither Hollerbach nor Kaufmann was registered for the Champions League, nonetheless.

“It is how it is, we have to accept it. We have to concentrate on the players that are there,” Bjelica stated.

Madrid received its earlier 5 video games throughout all competitions till Real Betis fought again to attract 1-1 on Saturday in La Liga.

Union will take some encouragement from its personal efficiency within the 1-0 loss to Madrid on the Santiago Bernabéu in September. Jude Bellingham scored Madrid’s winner solely within the fourth minute of damage time. Unfortunately for Union, he’ll possible be enjoying once more.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti additionally rejected the notion his staff may take it straightforward with prime spot within the group already assured.

“We’ve always said this is a special competition and we need to respect it with a good game,” Ancelotti stated. “Our professionalism is also at stake, so I think we’ll approach it with the idea of playing a good game and winning it.”

Heavy rainfall supplied a chilly welcome for Madrid’s ultimate coaching session in Berlin’s Olympiastadion, which is historically the house of Union’s metropolis rival Hertha Berlin.

Union’s Stadion An der Alten Försterei holds solely 22,000 supporters and the membership needed to offer as many as potential the possibility to see its debut Champions League marketing campaign. Tickets for Madrid’s go to have been offered out lengthy prematurely.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)