Bundesliga

2023-10-25T02:50:00Z

Union fall to third consecutive Champions League defeat

Christopher Trimmel suffered defeat on his UEFA Champions League debut.
Christopher Trimmel suffered defeat on his UEFA Champions League debut.

Giacomo Raspadori's second-half strike consigned Union Berlin to defeat in the UEFA Champions League as they lost 1-0 to Napoli at the Olympiastadion.

Union Berlin 0-1 Napoli
Goals: 0-1
Raspadori 65' (assist: Kvaratskhelia)

After eight consecutive defeats in all competitions, including narrow losses to Real Madrid and Braga in their maiden two fixtures in this competition, it would have been easy for the hosts to wilt under the wait of the increasing pressure. However, they started positively against the reigning Serie A champions, and were the better side before the interval. Janik Haberer's early half-volley from distance and Diogo Leite's header, both of which flew wide of the post, could be described as half-chances but, shortly after the hour mark, Die Eisernen appeared to have taken the lead. Some brilliant work from David Datro Fofana down the right flank saw the Ivory Coast international break into the area and play a ball across the face of goal for Haberer to tap into an empty net. However, the striker was in an inside position when he initially received the ball, meaning the goal was chalked off. There were further opportunities for Brenden Aaronson, Fofana and Rani Khedira before the break and, while none of them threatened to beat Alex Meret between the Napoli sticks, Urs Fischer will have been happy with his side's display, with Union also preventing their opponents from having a real sight of goal.

At the start of the second half, it was much the same story - Napoli dominated possession and territory, but Union looked the more dangerous on the counter-attack. However, after Fofana had dragged an effort wide, the visitors struck at the other end in the 65th minute. Danger man Khvicha Kvaratshkelia was involved, getting to the byline and pulling a ball back for Giacomo Raspadori, the replacement for the injured Victor Osimhen, to bury a first-time effort beyond Fredrik Rønnow. Union pushed forward in their attempts to grab an equaliser, and they came within inches of it when Robin Knoche headed Christopher Trimmel's cross just wide of the post. In the end, Fischer and Co. couldn't find the goal their endeavour deserved. This was their third straight defeat in this competition, meaning their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages are all but over. However, Real Madrid's victory over Braga in the group's other clash means Union's hopes of dropping down to the UEFA Europa League are still alive, although their Bundesliga clash against Werder Bremen this weekend is currently more pressing.

Match stats

Teams

Union Berlin: Rønnow - Doekhi (Tousart 80'), Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Haberer (Volland 80'), Khedira (Král 70'), Aaronson (Laïdouni 70'), Gosens - Fofana (Behrens 70'), Becker
Subs: Schwolow, Stein, Jaeckel, Bonucci, Dehl
Out: Juranović (muscle), Schäfer (foot), Kaufmann (knock), Roussillon (knock)
Coach: Urs Fischer

Napoli: Meret - Di Lorenzo (c), Rrahmani, Natan, Rui (Olivera 71') - Cajuste (Elmas 46'), Lobotka, Zieliński - Politano (Lindstrøm 81'), Raspadori (Simeone 71'), Kvaratskhelia (Østigård 88')
Subs: Contini, Gollini, Zanoli, Gaetano, Zerbin, D'Avino
Out: Osimhen (thigh), Anguissa (thigh), Jesus (hamstring)
Coach: Rudi Garcia

As it happened!

New posts available
0 - 1(0 - 0)
Union Berlin
FINAL
Napoli
Champions League Matchday 3 Olympiastadion, Berlin
90'
vs

Added time

FIVE minutes for Union to find an equaliser, as Behrens heads wide...

88'
vs
Ostigard
Kvaratskhelia
84'
vs

No way through

Napoli are showing all their experience. It'll take something special for Union to get a result now, you feel. They do have set-pieces in their locker...

81'
vs

UCL experience

Volland knows his way around the Champions League from his time at Leverkusen and Monaco. Napoli, meanwhile, have introduced Jesper Lindstrom, who won the 2021/22 Europa League with Frankfurt and played in last season's groups with the Eagles.

81'
vs
Lindstrom
Politano
79'
vs
Kevin Volland
Janik Haberer
79'
vs
Lucas Tousart
Danilho Doekhi
76'
vs

Tactics

Balancing act for Union now. Napoli are letting them come at them, patiently awaiting an opportunity to counter.

72'
vs
Olivera
Rui
72'
vs

Triple change

Union need a spark. Can the four-goal Behrens provide it?

71'
vs
Simeone
Raspadori
70'
vs
Alex Král
Rani Khedira
70'
vs
Kevin Behrens
David Datro Fofana
70'
vs
Aissa Laidouni
Brenden Aaronson
65'
vs

Union undone!

Uh-oh! Kvaratskhelia works his magic to tee up Raspadori for, well, a rasping strike that leaves Rönnow with no chance.

65'
vs
Raspadori

GOAL!

0:1
62'
vs

Tame

Becker spies an opening, but his shot from outside the box doesn't trouble Meret in the Napoli goal. Is it time to freshen up the Union attack?

60'
vs

Holding firm

Napoli are seeing more of the ball, but Union are hunting in packs and allowing precious little by way of goal-scoring openings.

54'
vs
Janik Haberer
51'
vs
Robin Gosens
50'
vs

Denied!

Kvaratskhelia has a sniff of the Union goal, but Haberer gets in the way.

46'
vs
Eljif Elmas
Jens Cajuste
46'
vs

Come on, Union!

No changes from the men in red. Can Union find another gear?

0 - 0

Kick-off!

0 - 0

Half-time

44'
vs

Added time

Sixty additional seconds in the German capital. Would be great time for Union to score...

42'
vs

Napoli up the ante

Just signs Napoli are beginning to take charge as Raspadori has an effort charged down.

17'
vs
Amir Rrahmani
10'
vs
Christopher Trimmel
37'
vs

Fofana!

The Chelsea loanee takes aim from inside the area, but Meret beats is clear. Can Union make one of these chances count?

34'
vs

Union lively

Fischer will be happy with his team's performance so far. They're playing with intensity and showing no fear in attack.

28'
vs

Danger signs

Kvaratskhelia has the ball at his feet on the edge of the area, but Khedira slides in to block the shot.

30'
vs

Over!

Promising from Union once more as Aaronson connects with a Becker cross into the Napoli box, the American firing over.

24'
vs

Disallowed goal!

Celebrations are cut short in Berlin! Gosens applied the finishing touch, but Fofana - who supplied the assist - was offside when he received the ball from Trimmel. Encouraging, mind!

26'
vs

Elsewhere in Group C

Real have taken the lead away to Braga. As things stand, they're top on nine points; Union are bottom on one...

22'
vs

Becker concern

Becker's back on the pitch, after leaving it a touch gingerly not long ago. Fischer watches on pensively...

21'
vs

Second Haberer attempt

This one is a little wide, as the midfielder slashes his volley well wide.

12'
vs

Solid start

Fischer will be happy with the way his side has started this clash. They have been solid at the back while looking to threaten at the other end.

6'
vs

Leite heads wide

Union will look to put their aerial prowess to good use in this clash, and Leite has an early opportunity to head home. Instead, though, he nods wide.

3'
vs

First attempt for Union

Haberer hits his half-volley well, and although it is never troubling Meret between the Napoli sticks, it is at least an early sighter for the hosts.

1'
vs

Here we go!

We're up and running!

0 - 0

Kick-off!

vs

Less than 15 minutes to go!

Not long now before kick-off. Can Union get their Champions League campaign up and running?

vs

Familiar faces

Injury means we will not see former Wolfsburg striker Osimhen at the Olympiastadion and, while there are no ex-Bundesliga players in Napoli's starting XI, some German football alumni could come on from the bench. Jesper Lindstrøm moved to Italy from Eintracht Frankfurt this past summer, while Leo Skiri Østigård made 28 Bundesliga 2 appearances on loan at St. Pauli during the 2019/20 campaign.

vs

Union starting XI

Rønnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Haberer, Khedira, Aaronson, Gosens - Fofana, Becker

vs

Union subs

Schwolow, Stein, Jaeckel, Bonucci, Laïdouni, Tousart, Král, Dehl, Behrens, Volland

vs

Napoli starting XI

Meret - Di Lorenzo (c), Rrahmani, Natan, Rui - Cajuste, Lobotka, Zieliński - Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia

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