Familiar face: former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham denied Union Berlin a famous result at the home of Real Madrid. - © Getty Images
Familiar face: former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham denied Union Berlin a famous result at the home of Real Madrid. - © Getty Images
Union Berlin suffer last-gasp UEFA Champions League debut heartache as Jude Bellingham seals Real Madrid win
UEFA Champions League debutants Union Berlin's hopes of taking a point off record winners Real Madrid were dashed by an injury-time goal from Jude Bellingham.
Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Bellingham 90'+4
On what was a momentous, historical night for the visitors at the home of the record tournament winners, Union largely frustrated their prestigious hosts in the first half. A frantic start saw Lucas Tousart booked in the opening minute for a foul on living footballing legend Luka Modrić while home forward Joselu flashed a header off target when well placed. Yet, backed by a vociferous visiting support, the Berliners also had their moments. Kevin Behrens nodded over from Josip Juranović's centre as Urs Fischer's men settled into their opulent surroundings. Largely reduced to long-range efforts for a time, Madrid's struggles were reflected by an increasingly tetchy crowd as the half wore on.
Having won their previous five group stage games at home, the hosts were always going to ratchet up the pressure after the break and so it proved. Frederik Rønnow saved from Rodrygo while the same player volleyed against the Union woodwork just seconds later. Now in full flow, Carlo Ancelotti's side produced another fine chance via Rodrygo's cross from the left which was met by Joselu's header. Rønnow came to Union's rescue by tipping the ball against the woodwork. Despite their dominance, the men in white were still susceptible to The Irons' counter-thrust game and were almost caught out when Sheraldo Becker's centre just evaded substitute Brenden Aaronson. The action swinging back the other way, Antonio Rüdiger and Joselu spurned further Real chances. As the game drifted into injury time, the Bundesliga side looked to have done enough. However, former Borussia Dortmund man Bellingham popped up at the death to break Union hearts with an opportunistic strike.
Watch: Find out all about Champions League debutants Union
Match stats
- Union are the 15th German team to play in the Champions League groups (more than any other nation).
- By contrast, record winners Real have contested a tournament-leading 305 Champions League games.
- Leonardo Bonucci was a 2014/15 Champions League runner-up with former club Juventus. He has now made 85 appearances in the competition, including six against Real (W1, D2, L3).
- Juranovic, Kevin Volland and Robin Gosens are the only other Union players with previous Champions League experience.
- Bellingham won four of six meetings with Union as a Dortmund player. This Matchday 1 encounter saw the England international score his first goal against the capital club.
- David Alaba, Joselu, Toni Kroos and Rüdiger are former Bundesliga players, like Bellingham.
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Teams
Real: Kepa - Vázquez, Rüdiger, Nacho (c) (Fran García 73'), Alaba - Modrić (Brahim Díaz 80'), Tchouameni (Valverde 66'), Camavinga (Kroos 65') - Bellingham - Joselu, Rodrygo
Unused subs: Lunin, Cañizares, Ceballos, Mendy, Gonzalo, Tobias
Out: Courtois (knee), Güler (knee), Militao (knee), Vinicius (thigh)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Union: Rønnow - Doekhi, Bonucci (Jaeckel 80'), Leite - Kral - Juranovic, Laidouni (Aaronson 66'), Tousart (Kemlein 83'), Gosens - Becker (c) (Fofana 80'), Behrens (Volland 66')
Unused subs: Schwolow, Stein, Roussillon, Trimmel
Out: Haberer (suspended), Khedira (calf), Knoche (muscular), Schäfer (foot)
Coach: Urs Fischer
As it happened!
1 - 0
(0 - 0)
Madrid
FINAL
Union Berlin
Champions League
Group C, Matchday 1 Group C, Matchday 1 Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Group C, Matchday 1 Group C, Matchday 1 Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
90'
+ 5
FULL TIME! Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin
Union were 60 seconds from holding the record European champions to a draw - but what an effort from the debutants. This day will never be forgotten. The performance will give them real hope they can get out of this group.
Full-time
90'
+ 4
Heartbreak for Union!
Bellingham delivers at the last for Real, firing in following a scramble in the Union box.
89'
Time added on
Union are FIVE minutes from a quite remarkable result on their Champions League debut...
86'
Saved again!
Rønnow makes himself big to thwart Rodrygo at his near post. The Dane is playing a blinder - they all are!
83'
Kemlein joins the action
The 19-year-old midfielder is on for only his third Union appearance, having been promoted to the senior team from the U19s over the summer.
83'
Substitution
83'
What a chance!
Bellingham with a cross from deep... Joselu connects in the box on the volley... wide!
80'
Leonardo the leader!
Bonucci has been superb on his Union debut. Hard to believe he's 36! The hard-running Becker also makes way. Jaeckel and Fofana are on to get this over the line...
80'
Substitution
80'
Substitution
80'
Substitution
79'
Chance not taken
Yet another Joselu header, but this one is straight into a teammate. Is it going to be one of those nights for the hosts? Let's hope so!
75'
Blushes spared!
Rønnow completely misses a corner, but Rüdiger - who perhaps doesn't expect it - can't direct the ball on target. The goal was gaping, too!
73'
Substitution
69'
No way past Rønnow!
Modrić tries his luck with a rising drive that the back-tracking Rønnow does well to claw over his crossbar. Real are trying everything!
66'
Fresh legs
Fischer responds to that double Real change by throwing on Aaronson in midfield and Volland up top. They'll certainly give Real something different to think about in transition.
66'
Substitution
66'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
63'
Super Fred!
Rønnow with another superb save, perhaps his best yet, as he tips Joselu's towering header onto the upright.
61'
Union hustle
Real continue to circulate the ball, but Union's press is keeping them at arm's length. Fischer really has got his game plan spot on!
55'
Strong stop!
Camavinga feeds Joselu for a shot the diving Rønnow is able to beat away. Real just keep coming...
55'
Mounting pressure
Union have some defending to do as Bonucci gets in the way to prevent Rodrygo from going through. The visitors have a storm to ride...
51'
Crossbar!
Rodrygo goes past Leite and takes aim. Rønnow doesn't know a great deal about it, but does really well to block with his just. The ball's returned with interest, and this time it's the woodwork that thwarts Rodrygo. The game's bet chance by a mile!
49'
Gosens!
Behrens does really well to shield the ball before laying it off for Gosens, who drives into the side netting. No fear from Union.
46'
Second half!
No changes from either side in the Spanish capital. Union had 29 percent possession in the first half - can they maintain intensity levels?
Kick-off!
45'
+ 1
Half-time! Real Madrid 0-0 Union
Stubborn, spirited and high on intensity, Union have been superb on their Champions League debut. Real have created chances, but have generally struggled to find the spaces when in possession, and have had to be on full alert when the Berliners have attempted to turn defence into attack. More of the same from Fischer's charges will do very nicely indeed.
45'
+ 1
Wide!
Alaba steals in ahead of Bonucci at the near post, but flicks his header from a corner wide of the target.
44'
Added time
Two added minutes are shown on the fourth official's electronic board. It looks like Král will at least try to make it to the half-time whistle...
41'
Král concern
The Union midfielder needs treatment for that earlier challlenge from Tchouaméni that produced Real's first caution. He may have to come off...
38'
Right idea
Behrens presses high and retrieves the ball. He immediately looks for the pace of Becker, but overcooks his attempted pass through to Kepa.
37'
Yellow card
34'
Frustrations creeping in
Nacho with a speculative effort from downtown. This is not going Real's way, despite all their possession.
0:19
BundesligaxNFL
Midfield battle ground
© Getty Images
27'
Wayward
Tchouameni takes possession outside the box, before blazing comfortably over the Union goal. The Bundesliga club will be happy to see efforts like that all day long.
25'
Over from Joselu!
The former, Frankurt, Hoffenheim and Hannover striker gets up to a Modrić corner, but can't keep his header down. He's making a real nuisance of himself from set-pieces...
21'
Thin ice
Král is penalised twice in quick succession for fouls on Bellingham. The Union man would do well to rein it in, especially with Tousart already on a booking so early in the game.
17'
Talking tactics
Real are dictating the pace of the game, with Union happy to use their counter-attacking wiles at any available opportunity.
13'
Wide!
Bellingham miscues from range, but that's a reminder of his confidence levels right now.
9'
Behrens!
Union giving as good as they get as Behrens heads a Juranovic cross off target. All four of his Bundesliga goals so far this season have been headers...
7'
Chances!
Joselu escapes the attentions of the Union defence to head a Vázquez cross against Doekhi and wide. Bellingham goes for a cheeky back-heel that catches everyone off guard following the corner, but Union survive.
3'
Rønnow called on
Now it's Real's turn to attack as Joselu gets his head to Bellingham's cross from deep, forcing Rønnow into the first save of the contest. Union almost undone by a made-in-the-Bundesliga moment.
2'
Lively start
Tousart is booked inside the opening 60 seconds for a challenge on Modrić. Union get the resultant free-kick clear and work an opening of their own, with Rüdiger getting in the way of a Behrens effort on goal.
1'
Yellow card
1'
Under way in Madrid!
Union's first-ever Champions League match. This is going to be special, whatever happens.
Kick-off!
Also in Group C
Portugal's Braga host defending Serie A champions Napoli later today. Union entertain Braga in a fortnight's time, before welcoming Napoli to the German capital on Matchday 3.
0:45
Watch: The moment Union secured Champions League qualification
Champions League experience
Robin Gosens was a runner-up last season with Inter and Josip Juranovic went up against Real in the group stage with Celtic. Kevin Volland has played in the competition for Leverkusen and Monaco, while Leonardo Bonucci reached the final in Juventus colours back in 2014/15. As we all know, this Real team is chock-full of UCL experience and past winners, including Messrs Kroos and Alaba, who also lifted the trophy at Bayern.
Bellingham warning
Fischer has warned of the threat posed by Bellingham, who has made such a confident start to his Real career. The ex-Dortmund midfielder has five goals and one assist in five appearances for his new employers. "He likes to play one-on-one," the Union coach observed. "He's very confident on the ball. I don't think we can stop him with just one player; we'll have to be compact as a team."
More on those teams
Urs Fischer turns to the experience of Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci, who makes his Union debut. Josip Juranovic and Lucas Tousart are the other changes from the 2-1 loss to Wolfsburg. Juranovic goes up against countryman Luka Modrić. Jude Bellingham, Antonio Rüdiger, David Alaba and Joselu are the ex-Bundesliga stars in the side, with Toni Kroos on the bench for former Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti's team.
Union starting line-up
Rønnow - Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite - Kral - Juranovic, Laidouni, Tousart, Gosens - Becker (c), Behrens
Union subs
Schwolow, Stein, Jaeckel, Aaronson, Volland, Fofana, Roussillon, Trimmel, Kemlein
Real starting line-up
Kepa - Vázquez, Rüdiger, Nacho (c), Alaba - Modrić, Tchouameni, Camavinga - Bellingham - Joselu, Rodrygo
Real subs
Lunin, Cañizares, Kroos, Valverde, Ceballos, Fran García, Brahim Díaz, Mendy, Gonzalo, Tobias
"Positive experience"
Union's captain Christopher Trimmel said that, "Every player has the dream of playing against the best teams," when the Austrian spoke at yesterday's pre-match press conference. The 36-year-old added, "I hope we return home after this night with a very positive experience and one we can tell our grandchildren about."
0:40
Glorious Union goals
"Play with intensity"
© EMMI KORHONEN/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images
Solid support
© IMAGO/Tilo Wiedensohler/IMAGO/camera4+
Fischer calls for courage
Union's boss has been speaking ahead of this evening's mammoth Champions League game for the visitors. "For us, it will be a matter of working well against the ball while remaining courageous going forward," the tactician explained. "You also need possession against an opponent such as [Real]. If you just it back, it will be difficult."
Bonucci experience
© AFP via Getty Images
Real's Bundesliga memories
Real Madrid also faced Bundesliga opposition in last season's group stage. RB Leipzig put the Spanish giants to the sword by 3-2 on Matchday 5 of the 2022/23 competition, with Carlo Ancelotti's men winning the earlier reverse fixture 2-0.
Familiar face
© Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
2:03
Opening day delight
Telling numbers
This will be Union's 23rd game in UEFA competition. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are playing in the Champions League group stage for the 27th season in a row.
12:00
Union Berlin lowdown
Welcome along !
It's only Union Berlin's UEFA Champions League debut against the tournament's record winners Real Madrid! Settle in as we bring you all the latest ahead of Wednesday's Group C extravaganza.
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