Union lastly snap dropping skid towards Napoli, preserve European dream alive

Union Berlin have snapped a 12-match-losing streak and ended a run of 5 consecutive fixtures with out scoring a aim. A 1-1 draw towards Serie A Champions SSC Napoli additionally preserves a slender hope that the Köpenickers may but qualify for the Champions’ League knockouts.

The historic depressing run of 1. FC Union Berlin (12 straight losses on-the-trot) has lastly come to an finish. The German capital’s Köpenick facet have taken their first Champions’ League level after drawing Italian Champions SSC Napoli 1-1 Wednesday night time on the Maradona Stadium. Although dead-last of their UCL group, it stays potential that Urs Fischer’s Eisern Union may nonetheless qualify for the 2024 part of the competitors with two wins and quite a lot of luck.

Union coach Fischer made 5 adjustments to the facet that suffered their twelfth consecutive defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt within the league on Saturday. Robin Knoche, Christopher Trimmel, Alex Kral, Robin Gosens, and Benedikt Hollerbach made method for Paul Jaeckel, Josip Juranovic, Jerome Roussillon, Rani Khedira, and Janik Haberer. Fischer’s prices – having lined up in a 3-4-3 on Saturday – shifted to a 3-5-2 towards the Italian champions.

The collective staff posture of the German UCL representatives within the opening minutes could possibly be described as “sufficient”. Die Eisernen stored a compact defensive form and compelled many fouls out of their hosts. The Italians managed extra of possession, however weren’t capable of obtain a major breakthrough till André-Frank Zambo Anguissa scored the supposed 1-0 on the half-hour-mark.

The aim was ultimately disallowed after video proof confirmed that Anguissa had fouled Roussillon within the aerial duel previous the tally. Union exhibited indicators of an offensive awakening within the minutes following the ruling, but Napoli had been in the end capable of rating the opening aim 9 minutes later. Matteo Politano chested in a failed Juranovic clearance for the 1-0 within the thirty ninth.

To their immense credit score, the German company pressed laborious in quest of an equalizer. A number of promising incursions into Napoli territory ultimately culminated in Juranovic hanging the pot at 45+7. The Berliners remained lively and inventive after the break. David Datro Fofana scored what felt like a most deserved equalizer within the 52nd, sharpening off a Sheraldo Becker rebound from shut vary.

Becker himself got here inside inches of netting the 2-1 three minutes later. A typically rather more assured FCU carried the momentum from the aim over the intervening minutes. Becker, Juranovic, Trimmel and Aïssa Laïdouni all noticed efforts blocked. The Köpenickers ran out of steam with about ten minutes of regular time remaining and needed to focus extra on defending down the stretch.

The subbed-on Lucas Tousart got here near serving to Union bag all three factors with a narrowly missed distance effort at 90+1. A lot of the motion in second half stoppage time nonetheless passed off on the different finish. Disciplined defending and a nice save from keeper Fredrick Rønnow at 90+5 no less than ensured that Union might rejoice one thing apart from a defeat for the primary time in two months.

Extra in regards to the match

Extra in regards to the groups