Brave Union Berlin edged by Real Madrid

Union Berlin 2-3 Real Madrid
Goals: 1-0 Volland 45'+1, 1-1 Joselu 61' (assist: Rodrygo), 1-2 Joselu 72' (assist: García), 2-2 Král 85' (assist: Laïdouni), 2-3 Ceballos 89' (assist: Bellingham)

Union started brightly in front of a vociferous Olympiastadion - normally the home of their Berlin rivals Hertha - with Kevin Behrens forcing a great save from Kepa Arrizabalaga with a close-range volley. Frederik Rønnow then did well to stop former Borussia Dortmund man Jude Bellingham from a tight angle at the other end. Stuttgart-born Spaniard Joselu saw a header skim Rønnow's crossbar before curling another effort wide, but Union always looked capable of hitting the record European champions on the counter, with Behrens unfortunate to see Robin Knoche's through-ball evade him after some great work in breaking the lines from the big centre-back. The half ended in dramatic fashion. Rønnow saved a Luka Modrić penalty and moments later launched a ball upfield with former Bayern Munich star David Alaba making a mess of clearing, allowing Kevin Volland to steal in and make it 1-0.

Union had the first chance of the second half too, Behrens heading an effort harmlessly into Kepa Arrizabalaga's gloves. Rønnow then made the save of the game at the other end, denying Rodrygo from point-blank range when the Brazilian looked to have the goal at his mercy. Kepa had a scare soon after following a Behrens through-ball to Volland, but it was one he survived before Stuttgart-born Spaniard Joselu got the record European champions back on level terms with a header from a Rodrygo cross. Little more than 10 minutes later and Joselu scored his and Real's second, heading home a Fran García cross at the near post. Second-half substitute Alex Král smashed home an equaliser five minutes from time, but Dani Ceballos had the final say and it ended 3-2 to Real.

Match stats

• Volland and Kral scored their second European goals of the season, drawing level with Sheraldo Becker as Union's top scorers on the continent.
• Union assistant Marie-Louise Eta became the first female coach in Champions League history against Braga. She won the 2010 UEFA Women's Champions League as a Turbine Potsdam player.
• Union were the 14th different German team to play in the Champions League groups.
• Union head coach Nenad Bjelica faced Real three times as an Albacete player without losing (D2, L1).
• Bellingham registered 12 goals and 16 assists in 92 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund.
• Alaba and Toni Kroos won continental trebles with Bayern, while Ancelotti guided them to the 2016/17 Bundesliga title.

Teams

Union: Rønnow - Jaeckel (Becker 75'), Knoche, Leite, Roussillon - Khedira (c) (Král 75') - Juranović (Trimmel 82'), Volland (Aaronson 82'), Haberer, Gosens (Laïdouni 75') - Behrens
Unused subs: Schwolow, Stein, Fofana, Dehl
Out: Bonucci (suspended), Doekhi (foot), Tousart (suspended)
Coach: Nenad Bjelica

Real: Kepa - Vázquez, Nacho (c), Alaba (Rüdiger 71'), García - Ceballos (Paz 90'), Valverde (Kroos 46'), Modrić - Bellingham - Joselu, Rodrygo (Brahim 80')
Unused subs: Lunin, Cañizares, Mendy, Martín, Gonzalo, Tobia
Out: Camavinga (knee), Carvajal (calf), Courtois (knee), Güler (thigh), Tchouaméni (foot), Militão (knee), Vinícius (thigh)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

As it happened