A special night awaits 1. FC Union. Real Madrid has invited to the start of the Champions League and the game promises to be a historic moment. Coach Fischer wants to face the Spaniards courageously on the pitch.
Five facts about the game
4,000 fans accompany the Köpenickers to the Spanish capital. Central defender Robin Knoche stayed in Berlin due to injury. That’s why Leonardo Bonucci could make his debut. Union will appear for the first time in the new black and gold special jersey, which was designed especially for the Champions League. Real Madrid have won every competitive game so far in the new season. With 14 titles, Real Madrid is the record winner of the European premier class.
That’s what moves Union
On Wednesday the moment is here that the fans of 1. FC Union have been waiting for all summer: For the first time in the club’s history, the Köpenick team will start in the group phase of the Champions League. And not just anywhere and against anyone, but in one of the most important places and against the most successful team in European club football: Real Madrid welcomes the Köpenick team to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
“You don’t know how many more times you’ll play here. So it’s definitely an experience. Playing in such a well-known stadium for such a well-known team is certainly something special. The respect should definitely be there, but he “It shouldn’t be too big,” said coach Urs Fischer before the game.
The evening will also be something very special for the thousands of fans who traveled along. The guest block of the Madrid stadium, which is currently being renovated, is completely sold out (4,000 tickets). A fan march is planned before kick-off. “I hope that we all fly home with a positive experience and can tell our children about it later,” said Union defender Christopher Trimmel at the press conference.
A positive experience could then give the Köpenickers new inspiration in the Bundesliga. There they recently suffered two defeats in a row and urgently want to score points again at the weekend. After their trip to Madrid, they will meet TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) without much preparation time.
The opponent check
The start of the new season couldn’t have been better for Real Madrid. The Spaniards have won all five of their competitive games and are currently at the top of the Spanish league table. The departure of their experienced top striker Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia in the summer does not seem to have left a big hole in the squad.
No wonder, after all, the next generation of successful goal scorers is already ready with the young attackers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. However, the biggest input so far came from a new signing who Union already knows from the Bundesliga. With five goals, ex-Dortmund Jew Bellingham is currently Real’s top goalscorer.
The ambitions of the team around the German national players Antonio Rüdiger and Toni Kros are as high as usual this year. “Our goal is always to reach the final and win it,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti before the group stage opener against Union.
The voices of the trainers
Urs Fischer: “We finally finished the last championship game against Wolfsburg on Sunday. And then the preparation for Real began. And when you look at the pictures, you know what the next task is. And we’re looking forward to it. (…) You have to be brave. You also need a bit of possession of the ball. Just defending, that will be difficult.”
Carlo Ancelotti: “We are dealing with a well-organized team. We have to play with high intensity if we want to win. (…) They are a new team in the Champions League, but that means they are in the “We did very well last year. (…) The good thing is, these days you can know everything about the opponent in football. We have studied them very well.”
This is how Union could play
Leonardo Bonucci could possibly make his debut in the Berlin jersey in Madrid. Because coach Urs Fischer has to do without Robin Knoche, who was originally scheduled to play, who stayed at home injured. Although Bonucci is currently lacking match practice, the experience of the Champions League and the opponent Real Madrid is anything but a new experience for the Italian international. So it could be just the right moment for his debut.
Lucas Tousart could also make his first appearance in the starting line-up. The newcomer missed the first games of the season due to a thigh injury, but was back on the pitch for the first half hour last weekend. Attacker Sheraldo Becker was also able to collect minutes again after his muscle fiber tear against Wolfsburg and would be an option. “It looks good for both of them. So more is possible,” said Fischer.
Union’s possible starting eleven: Rönnow – Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite – Juranovic, Kral, Gosens – Tousart, Laidouni – Fofana, Becker
Prognosis
Regardless of the result, it will probably be a memorable evening for the Union supporters at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Of course, they go into the duel with the Spaniards as clear outsiders, but Urs Fischer’s team will make it as difficult as possible for Real and could give their traveling fans the first Champions League goal in the club’s history.
