Union Berlin vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s final Champions League group stage fixture takes them to Berlin’s Olympiastadion to meet Group C basement boys Union Berlin.

Union Berlin’s debut Champions League campaign has gone all wrong, with the Germans heading into the final group stage round as the only winless side in Group C (D2, L3). Despite their underwhelming European record, ‘Die Eisernen’ can still secure a switch to the Europa League knockout playoff round. But to do that, they must beat Real Madrid and hope Sporting Braga will lose at Napoli in the other Group C fixture. If it’s any consolation for the home supporters, new manager Nenad Bjelica ended the club’s humiliating 16-match winless run (D3, L13) with a convincing 3-1 home win against Borussia Monchengladbach. It was also their first home triumph since August (D1, L6). That said, they’ve lost both Champions League outings at the Olympiastadion this season via a single-goal margin.

As for Real Madrid, the outcome in Germany is of secondary concern after a flawless five-game record in Group C (W5) sealed another top-table finish with a game to spare. That doesn’t mean that Carlo Ancelotti’s side won’t try to complete only their third-ever perfect group stage campaign, especially after drawing 1-1 at Real Betis last weekend en route to surrendering a top spot in La Liga to Girona. Despite Madrid’s mixed bag of performance across their 11 most recent Champions League travels (W6, D1, L4), Ancelotti remains convinced of becoming the most successful manager in the club’s rich European history. Beating Berlin would see the Italian tactician register his 42nd Champions League win in charge of ‘Los Merengues.’