Champions League: Berlin looks for European Comfort

Union Berlin vs Napoli

Union Berlin and Napoli meet for the first time on Tuesday when the Champions League returns to action for the third round of the 2023/24 knockout phase.

These are strange and difficult times for Die Eisernen who have enjoyed a spectacular run since rising to the Bundesliga in 2019. They have played Europa League football and, finishing fourth in the Bundesliga table last season, they have been elevated to Europe’s elite competition. But now Berlin are struggling for the first time in a while, in the lower reaches of the German top flight and bottom of Group C in their stuttering European conquest. 

This latest challenge, Champions League: Union Berlin vs Napoli, comes at a time when Die Eisernen are on an eight match losing streak having been stuffed at home by Stuttgart on Saturday. In contrast, I Partenopei were in Verona on Saturday and they ended a run of two defeats with a 3-1 win which took them up to within five points of the top of the Serie A table.    

Napoli are at SBOTOP odds of 1.40 to advance from Group C to the knockout phase, with FC Union Berlin the outsider at 7.00. The Germans have lost to both Real Madrid and Braga by the odd goal, while Napoli won their opener against the Portuguese side before losing to Los Blancos.

Talking Points

Bonucci must play for Union

Union Berlin Head coach Urs Fischer is enduring his first really tough time at the helm of the club he has led to new heights since taking over in 2018. Stuttgart is a team with ambitions of its own, in amongst the leaders, but the way their coast to a 3-0 win against Fischer’s side on Saturday was almost embarrassing for the home fans. Die Eisernen conceded the majority of possession and had only one shot on target and they looked bereft of leadership on the pitch.

There is a solution.

With 36 year old Juventus and Azzurri legend, Leonardo Bonucci, at the heart of their defence Die Eisernen will certainly have some fight. He slammed home a penalty during Berlin’s loss to Borussia Dortmund last week, but he stayed on the bench in the defeat to Stuttgart so I would expect him to start on Tuesday. Bonucci is strong at both ends of the pitch and, as well as giving the Napoli strikers plenty to think about, he is a serious threat at set pieces.

In attack I expect Sheraldo Becker to make a start after he came off the bench in the loss to Stuttgart while left sided midfielder Robin Gosens is a key player for Die Eisernen, scoring four goals in seven games in his first season at the club and, with 20 caps for Germany over the past three years, he is proven quality.       

Kvaradona is back in form for Napoli

Napoli head coach Rudi Garcia has had plenty to deal with in the early weeks of this campaign. He took over the 2023 Scudetto winners full of hope but their start has not been as good as expected while, off the pitch, there has been a troublesome relationship between the club and star striker Victor Osimhen. Contract talks are underway with the aim of securing an extension for the Nigerian, but rumours in England suggest Liverpool are close to signing the star.

With all this going on Garcia will be delighted his team returned to winning ways on Saturday, beating Hellas Verona as Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a brace with Matteo Politano also on target. Kvaratskhelia had an explosive debut campaign last season as he won the accolades of Serie A’s Most Valuable Player and the Champions League Young Player of the Year. He has been quieter so far this season but was back to his best on Saturday and, if he hits a run of consistency Napoli will continue their climb up to the Italian league table. He’s certainly set to feature heavily in the Union Berlin vs Napoli highlights, that’s for sure.      

I Partenopei’s last outing in the Champions League turned out to be a hot affair against Real Madrid as  23 year old centre back Leo Ostigard and Piotr Zielinski scored for Napoli but poor Alex Meret was credited with Los Blancos’ winner. Garcia’s side have the chance to put things right on Tuesday and strengthen their knockout hopes.   

History

Union Berlin were German league runners up way back in 1923 and, more recently in 2001 they were DFB Pokal finalists, so the last five years have been a period of unrivalled success for the club.

Napoli have a richer history in their league, winning the Scudetto for the third time in 2023 and they are six times Coppa Italia champions and UEFA Cup winners in 1989.

And recent form certainly favours the Italians. Napoli are unbeaten away from home in seven games while Union have lost the last four at home.  

Betting Tip

With the draw at 3.20 and Berlin at 3.01 to win, the pre-match Union Berlin vs Napoli betting odds put all three outcomes in play. But Union’s form is wretched at the moment and Napoli have the players to make it another tough night for Die Eisernen on Tuesday.

 

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