The Union miracle bursts in eleven minutes

Sensation fizzles out: Union Berlin aim for a miracle against Real Madrid, but only find harsh reality in the end. A fierce battle prevents the first victory in the Champions League and a winter in Europe. About the end of a sensational journey.

Nature does it again and again. Yahweh, Jesus and Mohammed did it too. The soccer god anyway. And Katja Ebstein sings about it. Now it's Union Berlin's turn - and why not? With a miracle, as it is so often described. In concrete terms, that means a victory in the Champions League against Real Madrid. Perhaps the greatest soccer team in the world. The galactics.

Fortunately, the Iron's last game in the top flight doesn't require a pyramid-building wonder of the world, as Madrid have already secured top spot in Group C before the game. All it takes is a little Köpenick phenomenon. A little sensation and Union Berlin will be in the European winter after all. In the event that Napoli win at home against Braga, they would be in the Europa League.

And indeed, for a while it looked as if the plan could work out and the team under new coach Nenad Bjelica could cause a sensation for the second time in a few days, after the redeeming first win in three months against Mönchengladbach on Saturday - until the Spanish star ensemble struck cold and Union lost 3:2 (1:0) in a wild game after a great fight and again with a goal conceded shortly before the end. No more first Champions League victory. The Iron's sensational journey through the European top flight came to an end.

Union's lightning start, Real's dominance

"It's a bit annoying," Kevin Volland wrestled with himself in the catacombs. "We were able to put in the odd pinprick, but it wasn't enough again." Why wasn't it enough for a miracle? "To win a game like this, you need a little bit of luck on your side in the end," said the striker. Keeper Frederik Rönnow sees a "difficult game against a world-class opponent", but the fact that he "conceded another goal in the last minute" "obviously hurts".

In the first minute, the first small miracle was almost perfect: after an arcing ball in the Madrid penalty area, who were without the Germans Antonio Rüdiger and Toni Kroos, Rani Khedira volleyed the ball to Kevin Behrens. An initial outcry goes up around the pitch. But the striker's direct shot from a good five meters is deflected over the crossbar by Real goalkeeper Kepa with a lightning save. The Berliners' new commitment and emotionality, instilled by Bjelica, which had already helped them beat the colts, was immediately evident.

From then on, however, when Madrid were in possession, the Union side withdrew deep into the penalty area with a five-man backline. Instead of the 4-1-4-1 used in the win against Gladbach, the new coach opted for the 3-5-2 of predecessor Urs Fischer because Benedict Hollerbach, who scored a goal on Saturday, is not registered for the top flight. Former Dortmund player Jude Bellingham made his presence felt shortly afterwards with two chances to score. Practically every attack and build-up by the Whites was routed through the Englishman. A short time later (16'), Joselu's header hit the woodwork. And more and more often, the dominant record Champions League winners were allowed to pass the ball almost unchallenged near the Union penalty area. Next, Fede Valverde curls a free-kick just wide of the right-hand post. After all, Napoli were already leading 1:0 at this point.

Penalty saved, lead goal, freak out

Then it was a triple miracle. Once again it was Joselu who narrowly missed taking the lead: The striker picks up a catastrophic misplaced pass from Gosens on the edge of the penalty area, takes two steps forward, but instead of passing to Rodrygo in the middle, he misses with his far post (43). Seconds after the top chance, Real are awarded a penalty because Diogo Leite clearly handles the ball from a cross from the right. Luka Modrić stepped up, and the veteran would not normally be asked twice for such an opportunity. But the Croatian shoots too loosely and centrally, Rönnow stops with his foot.

The Union fans' primal scream has barely died down when the direct counter-attack follows the subsequent corner. Friend and foe fly under Rönnow's long drive and David Alaba cuts a very unfortunate figure after a header extension. Kevin Volland takes the ex-Bayern's completely misplaced cross with his chest, remains physically stable in the duel and coolly slots a right-footed shot through Kepa's suspenders to take the lead (45.+2). Bjelica goes completely berserk on the touchline.

A chance at the very beginning and at the very end of the first half, a goal at a psychologically important moment seconds before the break. That smacks of the ripped-off and successful FC Union of the previous season. In addition, Napoli now led by two goals. At this point, the sensation and the first Champions League victory in the history of the Iron League seemed within reach.

Rönnow fantastic, Real relentless

In the second half, in which Kroos came on for Valverde, Union launched a dangerous attack immediately after the restart (Gosens header). A short time later, Rönnow almost emerged as a personal miracle worker: first he made an artistic save against a scissor kick from Lucas Vázquez. Then, with a one-handed world-class reflex save that would make any handball goalkeeper green with envy, he cat-like deflected a header from Rodrygo over the aluminum from a few meters out.

But then even Rönnow was unable to make a save when the Brazilian came up trumps again, this time cutting through on the right to cross into the middle as smooth as butter. There, Joselu climbs the highest, bracing himself against Paul Jaeckel, and heads in the equalizer (61'). The crowd went wild, the goal was chalked off and the miracle was once again a distant prospect.

Union looked shocked and could hardly get hold of the ball for several minutes. The next sting in the tail came courtesy of a brilliant counter-attack: Because the Köpenickers played out an outnumbering situation in Real's half very badly and lost the ball, Modrić had plenty of time and space in midfield. He found Fran Garcia, who was sprinting forward on the left and had just won the ball. Joselu headed his cross into the net again after a clever run (73'). The fact that the Stuttgart-born 33-year-old, who dashed all of Union's hopes within eleven minutes, was almost relegated from the Bundesliga with TSG Hoffenheim ten years ago also sounds somewhat strange on this evening.

"The most beautiful pub in Europe"

But watch out, it gets wild again afterwards. The Irons don't give up and fight with sacrifice - and suddenly the ball wriggles into the net. After a bit of a mess on the left corner of the Madrid penalty area, substitute Alex Kral suddenly pulls away from the back and his humorless low shot hits the left corner of the goal to equalize (85').

Is there still something left? Faith was suddenly restored, but the revival and hope only lasted a short time as Dani Ceballos was given too much space in the 89th minute and was allowed to shoot in for the final score - Jérôme Roussillon's shot took an unfortunate deflection. "We were alive until the last minute, but if you have to press for the third goal when the score is 2:2, Real Madrid are too good not to use that to counterattack," Bjelica later analyzed aptly.

Europe without the Union, the end of a sensational journey. Also because all three home games were lost in the unloved Olympiastadion, although the 73,420 fans once again provided great support. "We need the Alte Försterei like the air we breathe," reads an oversized banner hanging below the back straight. Shortly before kick-off, the fans unfurl a complete declaration of love for their stadium: "Europe's most beautiful pub" and "Football in the green", say the posters, as well as "Pilgrimage site of cohesion" and "The bastion, the cauldron".

Tough reality, good Bundesliga chances

Everyday life instead of witchcraft. The Irons are not mature enough for the top flight, although they can be mighty proud of their performance that evening. The reality is now: the fight against relegation. Next Saturday they travel to VfL Bochum. That sounds a lot like a Champions League evening against Real Madrid. But the fans in and around the stadium are not complaining, as the team is giving them a long lap of honor, they know that they have been able to enjoy an exceptional situation this year. Even without a miracle, they go home with their heads held high.

Above all, the wild evening against the Whites, against whom other teams have looked much worse, proves that FC Union have a good chance of averting the drop to the second division. And in its new coach, it seems to have found the right man for the job. Without any pyramids, Jesus or Ebstein.