Union Berlin winless - 1:1 preserves chance of Europa League
The winless streak of 1. FC Union Berlin continues under new coach Nenad Bjelica despite a long spell in charge. However, a 1:1 (1:0) draw in the Champions League at SC Braga meant that the Bundesliga club, now without a win in 16 competitive matches, at least kept alive their mini-chance of making it into the European Cup this winter. Although Union had already been eliminated from the top flight before Wednesday evening's game, a home win against Real Madrid on December 12 could at least theoretically see the Köpenickers finish third in their group.
International Robin Gosens (42 minutes) had put the visitors ahead, Álvaro Djaló (52 minutes) equalized for the Portuguese side. Braga defender Sikou Niakaté had been shown the red card after a rough foul on Kevin Behrens in the 31st minute.
Bjelica chose an extremely passive approach for his first game with the Berliners. Instead of pressing high, Union initially stood deep and let the hosts come forward. The new coach had switched to a back four and deployed Behrens as the only striker. Kevin Volland, on the other hand, came in down the right flank, while Gosens played on the attacking left wing.
However, after all the negative experiences of the past few weeks, these measures did not lead to more vitality. In the incessant rain in Braga, the match was extremely tough with few highlights. When things did get dangerous, it was only in the Union penalty area. In the 16th minute, Braga almost scored after a mistake by Robin Knoche. A good ten minutes later, Álvaro Djaló then had a completely free header, but nodded over from a few meters.
Berlin, on the other hand, produced next to nothing in attack. Although the statics of the game changed completely after half an hour. Niakaté kicked Behrens in the heel from behind in a tackle and was initially shown a yellow card. But then the video referee intervened - Niakaté was eventually shown red for the hard tackle. Union were now outnumbered and Braga were suddenly deep.
"We want to dominate," the 52-year-old Bjelica had said during his introduction. But there was hardly any sign of that, at least in the first half. Although the visitors dominated the ball and the action when outnumbered, they rarely found a way through the Portuguese defense. Until the 42nd minute.
Then Gosens suddenly appeared in the penalty area after a quick counter-attack and made it 1:0 with a low shot. Just three minutes later, Rönnow prevented the equalizer at the highest level, fending off a shot from José Fonte from a few meters out.
The sending off did not give Union any more confidence. On the contrary. The rain continued after the break, as did the visitors' hesitant performance. That took its revenge after a few minutes when Djaló suddenly found himself free on the right wing and scored the equalizer with a low shot on the wet pitch.
Anyone expecting a defiant reaction from Berlin after that was deceived. Braga once again took command while short-handed and pressed for the lead. The strong Djaló (59'), Ricardo Horta (60') and Simon Banza (64') all failed to score from close range. Union, on the other hand, looked completely unsettled.
Union only had a second good chance to score in the entire match shortly before the end. Substitute David Fofana (84') headed just wide of the SC goal.
Despite the red card to Braga defender Sikou Niakaté, 1. FC Union Berlin could not capitalize and maintain their lead, with Sporting Braga's Álvaro Djaló scoring the equalizer in the Champions League match. Despite the draw, Union Berlin still holds a slim chance of qualifying for the Europa League.
Union Berlin's struggle to find the back of the net continued in their Champions League game against Sporting Braga, with Robin Gosens' 42nd-minute goal being their only effort on target in the first half.
Source: www.dpa.com
