Et are some of the biggest names in world football: Juventus Turin, Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona. These former European champions may get to know the small but deafeningly loud Stadion An der Alten Försterei in February. “The names are just music to our ears. We’re happy, no matter who or what it is,” said Union Berlin’s winning goalscorer Sven Michel after the 1-0 win at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on RTL+. Games against such a caliber would be the next step in a climb for the district club, the end of which is becoming increasingly difficult to predict.
Because the Köpenickers are not only at the top of the Bundesliga, but have also taken the next step in the Europa League. European football greats are potential opponents in Monday’s knockout stage draw for February’s fixtures. In addition to Ajax, Juve and Barça, Sporting Lisbon, Shakhtar Donetsk or FC Sevilla are also possible. A duel with RB Salzburg would be particularly explosive due to the strict rejection of the “construct” by the Union’s appendix and the club itself.
“Of course you’ve heard a few of the names that are now there,” flirtatiously defender Robin Knoche when asked about Barcelona. “But in the end we take what comes. I think these are all beautiful trips.”
That should then also be a little easier and a highlight for the fans of the Iron Ones. Because Union was not allowed to sell tickets for the game in Belgium due to previous misconduct by some supporters. The city of Leuven issued an entry ban. A lawsuit against it was unsuccessful.
But of course some of the Unioners didn’t let that stop them and started the journey west on their own. Around 150 of them also made it into the stadium. Their chants could be heard clearly in the second half, even if a large part of the Berliners were asked to leave the stadium before the final whistle.
In terms of football, the success in Belgium was not a treat. It was a hard-fought labor victory. As with the three wins in a row in the Europa League before, there was a tight 1-0. “We had to suffer to the end and also tremble a bit,” said coach Urs Fischer. “It was very intense. I was knocked out after 60 minutes,” said Michel. But in the end, Union can always rely on his mentality.
The game was a “roller coaster ride,” said Fischer. After Michel’s early lead in what was only his second start of the season, there were hectic phases, but there were also good phases for his team.
But even with the Swiss, the precise analysis was of secondary importance in view of what had been achieved. “Once again, I’m over the moon with what the team did today,” said the 56-year-old. “It’s crazy, nothing more is possible,” he said of the success story of recent years. “We’re in the fourth year in the Bundesliga and over the winter in the Europa League – what can you say. You can choose a word there. I’ll take care of that. Brilliant.” Before dealing with pots on Monday, the club wants to defend its lead in the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on DAZN).
