Union Berlin also loses against SSC Napoli
Status: 24.10.2023 | Reading time: 3 minutes
Union’s Robin Knoche (left) in a duel with Naples’ Natan
What: REUTERS
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The crisis at 1. FC Union continues to worsen. The Berliners also lost to SSC Naples in the Champions League. It was the third defeat in the third game in the premier class and the ninth in a row in a competitive game. Things are getting more uncomfortable for coach Fischer.
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 (0-0) against the Italian champions in the red-lit Olympic Stadium on Tuesday and suffered 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.
This and the ninth defeat in a competitive game in a row is likely to spark discussion about the hapless coach Urs Fischer. Negative aspect besides the new defeat: When he was substituted for Kevin Behrens in the 70th minute, Union offensive player David Datro Fofana refused to give his coach the obligatory handshake.
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 Fischer was able to rely on national player Robin Gosens, who was still injured on Monday. Italy expert Leonardo Bonucci, on the other hand, took a seat on the bench – and was anything but happy about it, as expert Fabrizio Romano claims to have found out during the game. Accordingly, Bonucci, who recently had to vacate the starting position for defense chief Robin Knoche in the Bundesliga, would like to talk to Fischer about his situation on Wednesday.
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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 let anything happen with the recovered bone in the first half.
When the goal was scored, Napoli strolled through the penalty area like they did in training
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.
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.
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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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