Champions League: Napoli blocked by Union Berlin

Champions League: Napoli blocked by Union Berlin

At the Maradona, in the fourth match of Group C of the Champions League group stage, Napoli fails to repeat the success of the first leg challenge two seftimes ago and is stopped at’1-1 by’Union Berlin.

The first chance è for Zielinski who on 17’ tried a shot from the right deflected into a corner. On 24’ Natan’s header hit the post to the right of the Berliners’ goalkeeper. At 32’ after two minutes of checking at VAR, a header goal by Anguissa was cancelled due to an earlier foul by Di Lorenzo on Roussillon.

But in 39’ the Italian champions take the lead: cross by Mario Rui, Leite touches but the ball slams into Politano who clears the goalkeeper. In the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, the first chance for the Berliners with a Juranovic free-kick that hit the post.

In the second half, in 52’ there’è Union’s equalizer with a counterattack and Becker’s shot repelled by Meret on which Fofana arrives and inserts. In 68’ Trimmel’s great shot deflected by Meret. The team in which Bonucci plays seems less tired than the Parthenopeans and è grew in the distance.

Shortly after the half’hour Garcia brings in Olivera and Simeone for Mario Rui and Lobotka, towards the end of regulation time Lindstrom is inserted for Politano and then, in the seven minutes of added time, Cajuste for Zielinski. But there’è nothing to be done, Napoli does not go beyond a draw.

The round of 16 is not far away but a win is still at least missing, probably in the last game against Braga, to nab them. Union Berlin, on the other hand, breaks a streak of twelve consecutive defeats among all competitions.