Beaten by a last-gasp Jude Bellingham goal on their Champions League debut away to Real Madrid, Union returned to Berlin, albeit city rivals’ Hertha’s Olympic Stadium, for their first home fixture in the competition. Robin Gosens scored early, but his effort was quickly ruled out for an offside in the build-up against Becker. Former Schalke man Rodrigo Zalazar tested Frederik Rönnow with a free-kick, before Union were celebrating again - and this time the goal stood. Alex Král was the provider and Becker, jinking through on goal, provided the finish. In a furious first-half finale, Rönnow stood up to a Bruma effort. Becker then latched on to a long ball to complete his brace with another composed finish. However, an uncharacteristic Rönnow fumble allowed Sikou Niakaté to halve the deficit.
Union were pegged back soon after the restart, with Rönnow powerless to keep out Bruma’s blistering drive. Becker put a golden chance on a plate for substitute Kevin Volland with over an hour gone, but the Germany forward could only fire straight at Matheus in the Braga goal. The effervescent Becker took the bull by the horns with yet another defence-splitting run that ended with a shot into the side netting. He followed that up with an effort that cannoned off a Braga defender and away to safety. Urs Fisher threw on USA international Brenden Aaronson in an effort to find a late winner. The Leeds United loanee could and perhaps should have delivered it in the 86th minute, but headed Volland’s inch-perfect cross wide of the target. Matheus denied Král, before substitute André Castro landed a sucker-punch in injury time to leave Union pointless after two matches.
Match stats
Union are bottom of Group C, ahead of their Matchday 3 fixture at home to Napoli.
Die Eisernen are the 15th German team to play in the Champions League groups (more than any other nation).
Leonarado Bonucci was a 2014/15 Champions League runner-up with former club Juventus. He has now made 85 appearances in the competition.
The last German club to win their debut home fixture in the Champions League was Wolfsburg in 2009/10.
Union won three of their five Europa League home games last season at the Alte Försterei. Their European record at the Olympiastadion from the 2021/22 Conference League was one win, one draw and one loss.
Union and Braga met in last season’s Europa League group stage, with the respective home team winning 1-0 in each game.
Champions League Group C, Matchday 2 Group C, Matchday 2 Olympiastadion, Berlin
90'
+ 4
Full time
What a sucker punch for Union. The hosts have lost their second-successive Champions League game in injury time. Just like against Real Madrid on Matchday 1, the Irons have been undone by a late, late goal.
90'
+ 4
Braga win it
André Castro has won the game at the death with a slightly-deflected André Castro goal.
That was the chance. Volland's centre is met by Brenden Aaronson, who heads off target. That's one more big opportunity spurned by the hosts.
85'
Aaronson effect
Aaronson has been sniffing around in attack, looking for openings and making a general menace of himself. Is there time for the USMNT man to make a difference here?
Ooooh, the hosts could and maybe should be 3-2 up! Becker sends in a sensational ball and Volland thwacks his shot straight into Matheus from close range. Big, big opportunity for Union.
70'
Volland off target
The substitute is quickly warming into this game and has an effort that goes off target.
66'
Juranović dead ball
Horta fouls Juranović on the edge of the area. Free kick Union. Juranović takes the set-piece but can only find the wall.
63'
Double swap
Urs Fischer throws Kevin Volland and Aissa Laidouni into the mix.
Ricardo Horta from inside the area, flashes a shot at goal which Rønnow manages to save.
Union's grip slipping
Union are just about holding it together here, the hosts having been momentarily stunned by that Braga equaliser. The game is starting to tilt slightly in Braga's favour now.
Bruma nets his fifth Champions League goal with a stunning strike from Horta's pass. The hosts are stunned.
50'
Juranović probing
Union are taking the game to Braga in the second half here. Josip Juranović hits a wicked set piece in towards Behrens. The Irons' forward just misses out there.
47'
Banza booked
Banza puts on arm on Behrens and that's both a foul and a yellow card for the Braga man.
Danilho Doekhi's long pass is flicked on by Lucas Tousart and Becker is away again. A superb, delicate finish follows from Union's No. 27 and Union are in dreamland.
The home coach is looking pretty contented right now. His Union team are deservedly leading, keeping their shape and are continuing to probe for openings.
34'
Braga chance
Bruma almost finds a quick equaliser but the visiting attacker's shot is well blocked by goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow.
31'
GOAL UNION!
There it is! Union Berlin's first-ever UEFA Champions League goal is scored by the home captain Sheraldo Becker. Kral feeds the big striker, who waltzes through and finishes calmly to lift the Olympiastadion from its foundations.
Behrens is able to nod the ball for Becker and the latter gets his strike away. Matheus is off his line and makes a fine save.
26'
Becker denied
Behrens slips the pass in for his captain. Becker manages to get the shot away ... Matheus makes the save. Becker was offside.
23'
Diogo Leite on his bike
Diogo Leite embarks on a super run and he manages to get the cross in. Becker almost gets there, the visitors do, though, and that'll be a corner for the hosts. It comes to nothing.
20'
Almost Behrens
Behrens steams away on the break and he has options to his right. The Union forward can't make the most of a fine chance, however, and Braga get back to clear their lines.
Braga in possession
The visitors are seeing more of the ball thus far with 64 per cent possession. Here come Union with a counter-attack, however ....
Alex Kral has been putting in a solid shift early on as the Czech Republic international protects his defence from the menacing Rocardo Horta.
8'
Non-stop support
The home fans got over the disappointment of that VAR disallowed goal just minutes ago and they are rocking again as they look to lift the hosts.
4'
Almost Union!
Ohhh, the Olympiastadion was a cauldron of noise just moments ago as Gosens put the ball into thenet after some good work from Becker on the break. The latter was offside in the build-up, however.
1'
Peeeep!
The action is underway at the Olympiastadion as Braga kick off!
Almost time ...
Huge chants of "Iron Union" ring out around the stadium and we're all set for kick off in Berlin!
Heavens open
Torrential rain and wind have befallen Berlin as both sides struggle through their pre-match warm-ups. We'll have an extra slippery surface come kick-off time!
Worrying run
There is also a big opportunity for Union to end a run of five straighth losses here. Urs Fischer's men have scored just once during that sequence so let's see how home forwards Kevin Behrens and Sheraldo Becker respond to the pressure.
Omens good for Union?
It goes without saying that Union would love to score their first Champions League goal in front of their adoring fans at a packed Olympiastadion. But can Urs Fischer's men also dream of taking their maiden three points here? They face a Braga side that have lost their last five games in the group stages of European club football's elite tournament.
Union are showing two changes to the side that lost to Heidenheim at the weekend. Josip Juranovic and Janik Haberer (suspended against Real Madrid) are in for Christopher Trimmel and David Datro Fofana.
Braga team news
Braga's in-form forward Simon Banza (pictured) is preferred up front to Abel Ruiz up front for the visitors this evening while with Victor Gómez injured, Joe Mendes steps up. Serdar Saatçı, meanwhile, takes José Fonte's place in defence.
Tiago Sá, Horníček, José Fonte, Abel Ruiz, André Horta, Paulo Oliveira, Victor Carvalho, Adrián Marin, Rony Lopes, Pizzi, João Moutinho, André Castro
Teams imminent
We're not far away from both starting line-ups being revealed. The atmosphere is building nicely around the Olympiastadion, which is decked out in red today for Union's first Champions League 'home' game.
Diogo Leite confident against former club
Union's Portuguese defender spent the 2021/22 season on loan to Braga before moving to the Bundesliga. He says: "It won't be an easy match. Braga are a good team. They are resilient and get better every season. We will do exactly what the coach demands of us. At Real Madrid (pictured) we showed that we have what it takes. We will play more compactly and efficiently against Braga. We want to give the fans a win."
Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer is understandably excited at the prospect of his side being backed by a packed Olympiastadion. He says: "You have to look forward to that. To play in front of 70,000 of your fans can definitely help you. First and foremost, the team need to show that they are ready for the challenge though."
Robin Knoche (muscular) and Rani Khedira (calf) are doubts for the hosts. Alex Král recovered from an ankle injury in time for the defeat at Heidenheim at the weekend. Predicting Urs Fischer's starting XI is not an easy task given their disappointing Bundesliga form and talented squad after a number of high-profile summer signings. Leonardo Bonucci has a good chance of bringing his immense Champions League experience into the back three again alongside ex-Braga man Diogo Leite.
2:27
A taste of the Union Berlin buzz
This was the incredible scene when Union Berlin fans travelled in their thousands to Madrid for their side's opening Champions League match.
Form - Union Berlin
The Berlin side's heroic defensive effort at Champions League record winners Real Madrid was finally broken in the fourth minute of stoppage time by former Dortmund youngster Jude Bellingham. Coming so close to taking a point at the Bernabeu has to encourage Urs Fischer's side in their maiden Champions League campaign. After a good start to the Bundesliga, Union have lost their last four, most recently with a 0-1 defeat at newly promoted Heidenheim on Saturday.
Form - Braga
Braga enjoyed an encouraging start to the Champions League despite a defeat to Italian champions Napoli. Armindo Bruma had seemed to secure a point for the Portuguese side with an 84th-minute strike until a late Sikou Niakaté own goal led to an unfortunate 1-2 loss. The third-placed side in last season's Primiera Liga have won both their league matches since, scoring four in each.
It's back in Berlin
The tie will be the first Champions League encounter in the German capital since the 2015 final between Barcelona and Juventus. The last time a team were at home in the competition at the iconic Olympiastadion was back in March 2000 (Hertha Berlin v Porto).
Plenty of Union Berlin fans will be pinching themselves ahead of their first ever Champions League home tie. We recap how the club made history last season by qualifying for the elite competition...
Welcome along!
Thank you for joining us for live updates of Union Berlin v Braga. We'll keep you up to date with all the goings-on in the UEFA Champions League clash right here.
