Bundesliga
Union suffer last-gasp Braga defeat
Sheraldo Becker scored Union Berlin’s first UEFA Champions League goals, but his double was not enought to prevent an agonising 3-2 defeat to Braga.
Union Berlin 2-3 Braga
Goals: 1-0 Becker 30' (assist: Král), 2-0 Becker 37' (assist: Tousart), 2-1 Niakaté 41' (assist: Horta), 2-2 Bruma 51' (assist: Horta), 2-3 Castro 90'+4 (Bruma)
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.
>>> Find out more about 60 years of the Bundesliga here!
Teams
Union: Rönnow - Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite - Král - Juranović, Tousart (Laïdouni 63'), Haberer (Aaronson 81'), Gosens (Roussillon 86') - Becker (c), Behrens (Volland 63')
Unused subs: Schwolow, Stein, Jaeckel, Trimmel, Kemlein
Out: Khedira (calf), Schäfer (foot), Knoche (muscular)
Coach: Urs Fischer
Braga: Matheus - Mendes (André Castro 86'), Saatçı, Niakaté, Borja (Adrián Marin 73') - Zalazar (João Moutinho 73'), Horta (c) (Victor Carvalho 83'), Al-Musrati, - Bruma, Banza, Djaló (Abel Ruiz 83')
Unused subs: Tiago Sá, Horníček, José Fonte, André Horta, Paulo Oliveira, Rony Lopes, Pizzi
Out: Gómez (thigh)
Coach: Artur Jorge
As it happened!
2 - 3(2 - 1)
Union Berlin
FINAL
Braga
90' +4
vs
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
vs
Braga win it
André Castro has won the game at the death with a slightly-deflected André Castro goal.
90' +2
vs
Král at the death
Král's effort looks to be spin-bouncing in until goalkeeper Matheus scrambles across to push the ball away.
90'
vs
Time added on
We'll have four added minutes to the end of the game.
87'
vs
Jérôme Roussillon
Robin Gosens
87'
vs
Castro
Mendes
86'
vs
So close Aaronson!
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'
vs
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?
83'
vs
Ruiz
Djaló
83'
vs
Carvalho
Horta
81'
vs
Union swap
Brendan Aaronson is on for the final nine minutes of this intense encounter.
81'
vs
Brenden Aaronson
Janik Haberer
78'
vs
Becker again
So much has come through Sheraldo Becker in this game. The Union captain accepts Laïdouni's pass before seeing his shot blocked.
75'
vs
So close Becker!
Sheraldo Becker does incredibly well to push the ball away from the Braga defence but his subsequent effort flied into the side netting!
73'
vs
Marín
Borja
73'
vs
Moutinho
Zalazar
71'
vs
Huge Volland chance
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'
vs
Volland off target
The substitute is quickly warming into this game and has an effort that goes off target.
66'
vs
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'
vs
Double swap
Urs Fischer throws Kevin Volland and Aissa Laidouni into the mix.
63'
vs
Kevin Volland
Kevin Behrens
63'
vs
Aissa Laidouni
Lucas Tousart
60'
vs
Rønnow to Union's rescue
Ricardo Horta from inside the area, flashes a shot at goal which Rønnow manages to save.
57'
vs
Mendes menace
Mendes is down the flank and manages to whip a cross into the centre. Union just about manage to clear their lines.
54'
vs
Leite sees yellow
Diogo Leite is booked for a foul on Álvaro Djaló.
54'
vs
Diogo Leite
51'
vs
Braga equalise
Bruma nets his fifth Champions League goal with a stunning strike from Horta's pass. The hosts are stunned.
50'
vs
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'
vs
Banza booked
Banza puts on arm on Behrens and that's both a foul and a yellow card for the Braga man.
47'
vs
Banza
46'
vs
Away we go again
The second half is underway ...
45' +3
vs
Half time
An exciting end to a pulsating half of Champions League football. Union are 2-1 up thanks to that Sheraldo Becker double. Don't go anywhere.
44'
vs
Time added on
There will be three minutes of additional time added to the end of the first half.
41'
vs
Braga score
Braga are back in it. Horta's powerful shot is fumbled out by Rönnow and Niakaté is there to tap in the loose ball.
37'
vs
Becker again!
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.
37'
vs
Fischer satisfied
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'
vs
Braga chance
Bruma almost finds a quick equaliser but the visiting attacker's shot is well blocked by goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow.
31'
vs
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.
28'
vs
Sheraldo again
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'
vs
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'
vs
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'
vs
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.
16'
vs
Rönnow alert
After the dust settles on that Bonucci free kick and those two bookings, Frederik Rönnow deals well with a Rodrigo Zalazar free kick.
15'
vs
Ricardo Horta
15'
vs
Horta warned
Ricardo Horta is also shown a yellow card for a bit of back chat to the ref.