Real Madrid 1-0 FC Union Berlin – Jude Bellingham's fairytale start continues with late winner against Union
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Updated 20/09/2023 at 23:56 GMT+1
Jude Bellingham’s fairytale start at Real Madrid continued as he scored a dramatic late winner against Union Berlin on his first Champions League game for his new club. Union defended resolutely to frustrate their illustrious opponents, but in stoppage time a delivery from a short corner pinballed in the box before eventually falling to Bellingham just a yard out and he gleefully swept home.
Highlights: Bellingham the hero for Real again with late winner against Union Berlin
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jude Bellingham scored a dramatic winner in the fourth minute of added time to give the record 14-time UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid a 1-0 home victory over Union Berlin in Group C.
The elegant attacking England midfielder pounced to force the ball home from unmissable range after it broke kindly to him off a Federico Valverde effort from outside the visiting area.
Bellingham's astonishing start to the season continues. He has scored six goals in as many games for Los Blancos, and also found the net in England's 3-1 win over Scotland in a high-profile all-British dust-up at Glasgow's Hampden Park last week.
Madrid have won five straight times to top La Liga and were probably unfortunate not to score before Bellingham saved the day with Rodrygo thumping the bar with a crunching volley while Joselu's header came off a post via a save by visiting keeper Frederik Ronnow in a breathless second half.
Union Berlin almost marked their debut in the UEFA Champions League with a historic point at the Bernabeu, but Carlo Ancelotti's side finally found a way through a superbly organised visiting side in the dying seconds to make a deserved winning start.
Braga host Italian champions Napoli in the other game in Group C on Wednesday evening as they bid to join Madrid at the top of the section.
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Bellingham 'fairytale start' at Real continues with late winner against Union Berlin
Video credit: TNT Sports
Talking Point: Should Aurelien Tchouameni have been sent off?
Union Berlin's mission could have been made a lot easier if Norwegian referee Espen Eskas had opted to reduce a frustrated Real Madrid to 10 men on 37 minutes.
The France midfielder was fortunate to survive the moment when Eskas hesitated before opting for yellow after he slid into late challenge on Alex Kral, who needed further treatment five minutes after being sent spinning into the air under the considerable force of the Tchouameni challenge.
It was a shuddering and crude tackle that could easily have attracted a red card. Especially when you recall the sending off doled out to Odin Thiago Holm for a similar late reducer in Celtic's 2-0 defeat at Feyenoord on Tuesday night.
In terms of consistency, you do wonder what constitutes a straight red card these days alongside the assistance of VAR?
The posse of Union players complaining about the lack of a red card certainly had a point when you studied the replays.
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'I’m so grateful to be at this club' - Match winner Bellingham reveals 'goosebumps' playing for Real
Video credit: TNT Sports
Player of Match: Diogo Leite (Union Berlin)
A superb and uncompromising performance from the Portuguese defender on the left side alongside Danilho Doekhi and excellent evergreen debutant Leonardo Bonucci at the back for the visitors.
Really rose to the occasion at the highest level in the Champions League to help keep Real Madrid's widespread attacking threats at bay for 94 minutes of an engrossing contest until the wonderful Bellingham struck with only seconds left on the clock.
It was a bitter pill for Union Berlin to swallow after a magnificent team effort, but they will take heart when they reflect on such a monumental defence effort on a momentous evening for the club.
Player Ratings
Real Madrid: Kepa Arrizabalaga 6, David Alaba 7, Antonio Rüdiger 7, Nacho 6, Lucas Vázquez 6, Rodrygo 7, Aurélien Tchouaméni 6, Jude Bellingham 8, Eduardo Camavinga 7, Luka Modric 8, Joselu 7 Subs: Fran García 6, Brahim Díaz 6, Federico Valverde 7, Toni Kroos 6
Union Berlin: Frederik Ronnow 7, Danilho Doekhi 8, Diogo Leite 8, Leonardo Bonucci 8, Aïssa Laïdouni 7, Lucas Tousart 7, Alex Král 7, Robin Gosens 7, Josip Juranovic 7, Kevin Behrens 6, Sheraldo Becker 6 Subs: Aljoscha Kemlein 6, Paul Jaeckel 6, Brenden Aaronson 6, David Datro Fofana 6, Kevin Volland 6
Match Highlights
7' GOLDEN CHANCE FOR MADRID Joselu somehow heads wide from the Lucas Vázquez cross. Not sure how he hasn't hit the target there. Should really score. Ancelotti knows it too in the technical area.
37' A BOOKING FOR MADRID A poor sliding challenge by the France midfielder as Tchouaméni clatters into Kral, who is going to need a spot of treatment. Think the Union players thought that was worth something a bit more. But just the booking.
52' MADRID INCHES AWAY FROM THE OPENER Rodrygo sees an effort blocked by Ronnow in the Union goal before a crunching volley comes back off the bar. So unlucky. Home side starting to really up the pace. Energised play finally from Los Blancos.
62' MADRID AGAIN GO CLOSE TO OPENER Ronnow with the save from the Joselu header. Ball palmed onto a post and back out. Rodrygo with the cross. Union goal leading a charmed life here.
70' MODRIC WITH MADRID'S LATEST ATTEMPT Brilliant play from the Croatian to fire a shot at goal, but Rønnow is alert to tip over his bar. Nice height for the keeper to deal with, but solid diving stop
90+4' BELLINGHAM SCORES FOR MADRID He forces the ball home from close range after the ball broke to him off the back of Kral. That is surely the winner. A frantic end. Federico Valverde with the blocked shot and Union are denied a draw.
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