Veteran striker Joselu headed Union Berlin out of Europe with two second-half goals for Real Madrid.
Roared on by supporters desperate for their first ever taste of Champions League to end on a high with Europa League qualification, they were exactly where they wanted to be at half time – one-nil up against Carlo Ancelotti’s team and with Braga losing in Naples.
But the former Stoke and Newcastle striker, who is enjoying a wonderful swansong at the club where he started his career, grabbed a brace to kill the dream. There was some false hope when Alex Kral levelled late on but Dani Ceballos got Madrid’s winner from a Jude Bellingham assist.
Joselu leapt high for his first goal, and stooped to nod in the second. Madrid needed him to save them after an accident-prone first half when Luka Modric became the fourth Madrid player to miss a penalty this season, and a comedy of errors at the back starring Nacho and David Alaba gave the home team the lead.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was back in goal and after just 50 seconds he saved Madrid from going behind. Luka Modric had skewed a clearance and from Kevin Behrens’ volley the Chelsea loanee keeper saved at point-blank range.
Dani Ceballos scored in the dying embers of the game to seal a 3-2 victory against Union Berlin
It came after Joselu scored twice in the match to help Carlo Ancelotti’s side bounce back after going a goal down
Just before halftime, Germany’s Kevin Volland scored Union Berlin’s opening goal.
After ten minutes, Madrid began to settle into their rhythm, and Bellingham’s shot from Lucas Vazquez’s pass was stopped by Frederik Ronnow. Within a minute, he had another opportunity, but he missed the cross from Fran Garcia.
Joselu headed over from another Fran Garcia cross just as Union Berlin was about to fall behind again. Dani Ceballos was cut down by Rani Khedira, the brother of former Madrid midfielder Sami, giving Madrid a set-piece opportunity, but Fede Valverde curled the corner over.
Bellingham only has one more yellow from a ban because he was booked before halftime. Union Berlin was very displeased with referee Rade Obrenovic for allowing play to continue after Nacho trampled on Jerome Roussillon. Bellingham followed Khedira into the book for a shove after the ball eventually left the play. Without even a warning, Nacho made his getaway.
Diogo Leite then made contact with Lucas’ cross with a dangling hand, winning Madrid a penalty. Modric attempted to take the penalty, but the goalkeeper stopped his meek attempt to go down the middle.
Alex Kral levelled to make it 2-2 after Joselu’s brace, but Madrid scored in the dying embers of the match to steal the victory
Having won all of their games in Group C, they will now move on to the Champions League knockout stages.
Just moments later, after witnessing their team not lose from the place where they led with the final attack of the half, Union supporters were thrown directly to the opposite extreme of the emotional spectrum.
Following a long punt down the field by Frederik Ronnow, Kevin Volland powered past Lucas and past Kepa after Nacho missed his header and David Alaba made an absurd attempt to clear the ball.
Napoli was now leading 2-0, and Union was expected to finish third. Were they able to hold on? After barely ten minutes, Rodrygo had a chance to score, but he failed to do so after receiving a wonderful assist from Bellingham. Ronnow swatted the ball away. With the cross for the score, he atoned for his error. Joselu capitalized on the opportunity to head home the equalizer.
After he headed in Fran Garcia’s cross to make it 2-1, it appeared that Union would lose, but their supporters persisted in believing, and when substitute Kral scored past Kepa after Madrid had botched multiple chances to clear the ball, the Europa League doors opened just a little bit more. The optimism persisted for as long as it took Bellingham to launch a left-wing assault and find Dani Ceballos, who scored to tie the game at three.
