Real Madrid came from behind to beat Union Berlin and reach the Champions League last 16 with a 100% record in the group stages.
Madrid entered the game with a one-point lead in their group, but they lost it shortly before the half as Union striker Kevin Volland scored on the counter after Luca Modric’s penalty was saved.
Union had already lost in the Champions League and needed to win to have a chance in the Europa League, but they gave up two goals to Joselu in the space of ten minutes, which silenced the Berlin Olympic Stadium crowd.
After Alex Kral gave the home team hope with Union’s second goal shortly after he entered the game, Real Madrid took the lead moments later when Dani Ceballos’ deflected shot dribbled into the net.
After considering the “slightly unusual match,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated that his team had the game “well controlled for 40 minutes and then two mad minutes made it complicated for us.”
Nenad Bjelica, the home coach, said “Real Madrid make you run a lot, until you’re running on empty — but that also happens to better teams than Union Berlin.”
Union dropped points as they did against Braga in Berlin and Madrid when they gave up a late goal. “There has been a lot of bad luck there,” Bjelica remarked.
“We’ll try and learn from that and do better.”
With two draws and four losses, Union’s inaugural Champions League campaign ends after just four seasons in the top division.
For the fourth time in Union dugout history, Bjelica complimented Jude Bellingham prior to the game, but asserted that countryman Modric was “still the best in the world.”
Twenty-year-old Bellingham, nearly half the age of the 38-year-old Croatian veteran, made an early impression, forcing Frederik Ronnow into a save and missing the post with a shot a few moments later.
Despite coach Carlo Ancelotti making five pre-match changes, the 14-time Champions League winners dominated possession and field position in the first half of the match.
Union managed to hold on until just before halftime, when Diego Leite made a foolish handball that put Modric in the right place.
Ronnow, diving to his right, stopped the low strike with a boot, making his third save of the season from five attempts in all competitions.
After a mistake by David Alaba, the Danish custodian lofted the ball forward, and Kevin Behrens found his namesake Volland to put Union ahead.
The visitors maintained their composure and controlled possession, and fifteen minutes into the second half, Joselu headed in a flawless cross from Rodrygo, demonstrating Madrid’s experience.
Ten minutes later, the Madrid forward doubled up, scoring with his head from an even closer range to take the lead.
“We had more width in the second-half” said Madrid boss Ancelotti, “when you have a player like Joselu, who is excellent in the air, you have to use that strength.”
After joining Real Madrid on loan from Espanyol in the summer, the 33-year-old German striker, who made his debut for Spain in March, has eight goals in 21 games.
Union had a chance to maintain their perfect record under Bjelica after Kral’s late goal, but Bellingham found Ceballos to score in the 89th minute.
Photo by EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
