Real Madrid vs. Union Berlin preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Here is our preview of Wednesday's Champions League group stage clash between Real Madrid and Union Berlin, including predicted lineups.
In a historic match for Union Berlin, the German capital club will play their first-ever Champions League match on Wednesday night, kicking off their European campaign against one of Europe's top heavyweights, Real Madrid, at the legendary Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
After a sensational last season, Union have started the 2023/24 campaign in bumpy fashion with six points after four games, having lost their last two matches against RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have won their first five games of the season, further cementing their role as favorites.
This is despite the fact that the Spanish giants are currently without Thibaut Courtois, Vinicious Junior, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Arda Guler.
Their success is in no small part due to Jude Bellingham, who has hit the ground running since joining from Borussia Dortmund, scoring five goals in his first five league appearances for the club.
Known as a coach who likes to rotate his squad, Union Berlin coach Urs Fischer is expected to make a number of changes to the team that lost 2-1 to Wolfsburg at the weekend, with Josip Juranovic, Lucas Tousart and Sheraldo Becker likely to replace Christoper Trimmel, Janik Haberer and David Fofana.
The German capital club will still be without Andras Schaefer, Rani Khedira and Laurenz Dehl.
Click here to see our predicted Real Madrid vs. Union Berlin lineups.