57.
20:06
At the following corner, Union’s header lands in Meret’s arms.
56.
20:05
Next chance for Union! Roussillon brings the ball flat from the left into the penalty area. Fofoana comes to a conclusion. The ball is deflected towards a corner.
55.
20:05
Naples reacts with a finish. Zieliński brings the ball from the right corner of the penalty area to the second post. Rrahmani comes to the header. Rønnow records the conclusion.
53.
20:04
It is the first competitive goal for David Fofana in the Union Berlin jersey.
52.
20:01
Tooor for 1. FC Union Berlin, 1:1 by David Fofana
Union counterattacks to equalize! Roussillon blocks a shot and then things happen quickly. Fofona has space on the right side. He plays into the path of Becker, who shoots directly from 16 meters with his right. Meret parries the ball, but the rebound lands right at the feet of Fofona, who stays cool from ten meters. He shoots the ball into the goal with his inside right side.
52.
20:01
Almost 2-0 for Naples! Kvaratskhelia dribbles into the penalty area on the right. He lets several opponents get out and then crosses. Raspadori’s shot is blocked.
49.
19:59
The image is initially unchanged. Union seems unsettled. Naples controls the game.
46.
19:56
Directly the first conclusion for Naples. A corner from the right side is not cleared properly by Union. This brings Politano to a conclusion. His shot goes over.
46.
19:54
Kick-off of the 2nd half
45.
19:43
Half-time conclusion
Naples goes into halftime with a 1-0 lead against Union. The first half belonged almost entirely to the Italians. Union was deep at the back most of the time and didn’t really have any chances to counterattack. Napoli, on the other hand, repeatedly brought crosses into the penalty area. It was foreseeable that Berlin would not be able to defend all of these crosses. Anguissa initially took the lead, but the goal was disallowed. Then it was Politano who made the well-deserved 1-0. Union only became a little more active at the very end. Juranović hit the post with a free kick. At the moment everything is going against Union Berlin.
45.
19:39
End of 1st half
45.
19:39
The post prevents the equalization! Juranović shoots the free kick from 20 meters from a half-right position onto the goalkeeper’s corner. The Union wall blocks Meret’s view. The goalkeeper would therefore have no chance at all, but the ball hits the post. It’s like magic. After that it’s halftime.
45.
19:37
Union takes another free kick from the left half of the field into the penalty area. A long-range shot is blocked, but Haberer gets to the ball and takes a good free-kick position 20 meters in front of the goal.
45.
19:34
Becker starts dribbling at speed on the right side. Then he crosses the ball into the goal.
45.
19:33
Juranović takes a corner from the left to the center. The ball is cleared and lands in the backcourt to Laïdouni, who volleys at full risk. His shot is blocked.
45.
19:31
Official injury time (minutes): 5
44.
19:31
Union shows no courage at all on the offensive. The security option is chosen again and again. This means there is no danger of scoring. Naples defends most of it easily.
41.
19:28
Yellow card for Leonardo Bonucci (1. FC Union Berlin)
Raspadori tunnels Bonucci on the halfway line. The Italian would be up and running, so Bonucci holds onto his jersey. That’s what the yellow card is for.
39.
19:26
Tooor for SSC Napoli, 1-0 by Matteo Politano
Now it has happened and this time the goal also counts. Again it is a cross from the side with which Naples overwhelms the guests. Mário Rui has far too much space on the left side of the penalty area. He brings the ball sharply into the five. Juranović deflects so that the cross flies into Politano’s chest. From there the ball goes into the goal unstoppable for Rønnow. The 1-0 was overdue.
38.
19:24
Becker brings the ball into the penalty area from the right. Haberer finishes at the near post. Meret catches the ball.
36.
19:23
Politano shoots from the right of the edge of the penalty area. His shot is blocked by Raspadori into the goal. There is a goal kick for Union.
36.
19:22
The lead for Naples would have been absolutely deserved. It was the hundredth cross that came into the penalty area. It was no surprise that a goal would be scored at some point.
33.
19:19
The VAR operation took a few minutes. There will probably be a longer injury time.
30.
19:16
VAR decision: The goal by F. Anguissa (SSC Napoli) is disallowed, score: 0:0
The home team takes the lead, but the goal doesn’t count! Mário Rui brings the ball from the left corner of the penalty area to the second post. There, Di Lorenzo is very obviously based on Rousillon. He comes to the header and lays it off for Anguissa, who pushes the ball over the line with his head from close range. Makkelie then looks at the scene again on the screen and decides on an offensive foul by Di Lorenzo. That’s why the hit doesn’t count.
29.
19:16
Fofana dribbles through the center and shoots from 25 meters. His shot goes way over.
26.
19:13
Naples’ chances are increasing. This time Raspadori brings a cross in front of the goal. Roussillon clears just in front of Di Lorenzo, who is ready to take a shot.
24.
19:11
Good luck for Union! Union clears the corner, but Naples remains in possession of the ball. The Italians bring the ball again from the right to the middle. Natan gets the header. His shot hits the left post.
24.
19:10
Di Lorenzo delivers a half-high cross from the right into the six-yard box. Diogo Leite clears for a corner.
23.
19:09
The following corner poses no danger.
22.
19:08
Roussillon brings a cross from the left to the second post. Mário Rui heads the ball for a corner.
20.
19:06
Union is currently acting too passively. The Köpenick team cannot withstand the high pressure from Naples for more than 90 minutes. You have to invest more yourself.
17.
19:04
Almost 1-0 for the home team! Union had actually already won the ball in their own penalty area, but then Diogo Leite cleared it against Roussillon’s chest. This gives Zieliński the ball. The Pole shoots from five meters on the right. Rønnow parries the shot.
15.
19:02
Loud banging noises can be heard again and again. Apparently some “fans” are throwing firecrackers. So far it doesn’t affect the game, but it doesn’t sound good.
14.
19:00
A Union corner from the left is not defended well by Napoli, but Meret is awarded a free kick because Bonucci was too close to him. Naples continues to have possession of the ball.
11.
18:58
Union dares to move forward again. Laïdouni drives the ball over the left side and then crosses into the middle. The cross is deflected and lands in the arms of Meret.
10.
18:56
Diogo Leite got the ball between his legs. He has to recover for a moment.
9.
18:55
Naples are clearly superior in this initial phase. Union is limited to defending.
7.
18:53
Raspadori dribbles his way through the center and then passes Kvaratskhelia to the left of the penalty area. The Georgian’s shot is blocked.
5.
18:52
First good chance! Naples’ second corner brings immediate danger. The ball lands on Rrahmani’s head six meters from the goal. Luckily for Union, his header goes just wide to the left. Rønnow would have had no chance.
4.
18:50
Union has the first conclusion of the game. Becker is sent to the right by Haberer. Becker goes into the penalty area and finishes with his right. His shot is no problem for Meret.
3.
18:49
The home team has a first corner. The ball lands in Rønnow’s arms.
2.
18:48
Naples starts with a lot of possession. Union is initially low.
1.
18:46
Game start
18:00
Rudi Garcia makes two changes for Napoli compared to the 2-0 win against Salernitana. Mário Rui starts for Olivera in full defense. In addition, Østigård will be replaced by Natan in central defense.
17:59
About the personnel: Compared to the 0-3 defeat against Frankfurt, Urs Fischer changed in five positions. Jaeckel starts in the back three for Knoche. Rousillon and Juranović occupy the flanks. Gosens and Trimmel initially sit on the bench. Haberer and Khedira also start in central midfield. Král sits on the bench for this. Hollerbach is not registered for the Champions League.
17:56
Napoli have won three of their last four competitive games. There was only a draw against AC Milan. Rudi Garcia’s team is in fourth place in the league. The gap to league leaders Inter is seven points. In the Champions League, the reigning Italian champions have six points from three games. A win today against Union would open the door to the round of 16. The first leg between the two teams ended 1-0 for Napoli.
17:49
Can Union Berlin finally free itself from the crisis? The Köpenickers have now lost twelve competitive games in a row. Accordingly, they are in a relegation battle in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League they are still waiting for the first point in the club’s history. “The situation is really shitty at the moment […]“But it’s important to look forward again and get up again,” said Urs Fischer at the press conference before today’s game. The team showed that they are ready to try everything again for 90 minutes.
17:43
Hello and welcome to matchday 4 in the group stage of the Champions League. Today at 6:45 p.m. SSC Napoli meets Union Berlin.
