Dhe 1. FC Union Berlin also missed the first Champions League victory in the club’s history against SSC Napoli and extended the sporting crisis in Köpenick with another defeat. The capital city lost 0-1 against the Italian champions in the red-lit Olympic Stadium on Tuesday and experienced their ninth defeat in a row. The Iron Men are still bottom of the table in Group C and only have a slim chance of overwintering in the European Cup.
Giacomo Raspadori (65th minute) shot the mostly harmless Italians to victory in front of around 72,000 spectators – and second place behind Real Madrid. Union was the better team for long stretches, but like most recently in the Bundesliga, they didn’t take advantage of their chances. In the third Champions League game, coach Urs Fischer was able to rely on national player Robin Gosens, who was still injured on Monday. Italy expert Leonardo Bonucci, however, took a seat on the bench.
The game started slowly. The flow of the game was lacking, bad passes and small fouls characterized the opening minutes in which both teams felt each other out in midfield. After winning the ball, Union were rarely able to combine near the opponent’s penalty area and tried long crosses from the wing. Since Kevin Behrens, who was strong in the air, sat on the bench for a long time, the crosses found no takers. The Berliners were secure at the back and didn’t allow anything to happen with the recovered bone in the first half.
Janik Haberer sent the red Union supporters into ecstasy out of nowhere in the 24th minute, but referee Irfan Peljto immediately canceled the 29-year-old’s goal. David Fofana was offside when Christopher Trimmel passed. The missed goal spurred Union on. Fueled by their own supporters, the hosts started a short but unsuccessful period of pressure. The shots from Brenden Aaronson (30th/38th) and Fofana (37th) were too imprecise.
“Kwaradona” dances past Trimmel
Immediately after the break, things became dangerous for the first time in Union’s penalty area. Naples’ dribbling artist Chwitscha Kwarazchelia (50′) danced past Trimmel and Diogo Leite and was only denied by Knoche’s leg. The game now became rougher and both teams were much more aggressive in their duels. Union waited for the counterattack and managed to win many balls in their own half. However, as in the past few weeks, there was a lack of accuracy in the forward play.
The guests, however, used their second chance to take the lead. After a failed attempt by Leite to clear the ball, the ball ended up in the hands of the Italians, who strolled through the penalty area as if in a training game. Raspadori just had to push in from close range. Naples managed the lead cleverly and played the ball easily through their own ranks. Union ran after it in vain. A final header from Knoche (80′) landed just wide of the post.
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