Liebe, Liebe Liebe: 1. FC Union Berlin vs Real Madrid.

Words: Damiano Benzoni

Images: Damiano Benzoni

Grown men were hugging each other tight, their faces transfixed with incredulity. They looked like they had won the lottery, collectively.

They turned their heads, looked for other smiles, for other eyes gleaming like theirs, or for someone to pinch them and tell them it was all true.

It was the craziest minute of their lives in the biggest game they had ever seen.

After a couple of early chances, Union Berlin - Real Madrid started to look like a slow build-up to the inevitable. In front of a packed Olympiastadion, Union couldn’t get hold of the ball, while Real waltzed it from side to side of the pitch, waiting patiently for their chance to come.

And indeed it did, as the ref pointed to the penalty spot.

©Damiano Benzoni/ Terrace Edition. 1. FC Union Berlin vs Real Madrid.

It was all set for the goal which would condemn Union to give up any hope of at least qualifying for the Europa League.

As Luka Modrić stepped up to take the shot, only one man could change the destiny of the night. His name was Frederick Rønnow, and the craziest minute of Union’s history passed through his feet: it was with them that he saved Modrić’s penalty. It was with them that he hoofed the ball away moments later: a freak rebound and a haphazard touch from Alaba put Kevin Volland in front of goal and he took it home to open the score right before half time.

That minute set the night ablaze. Before Jude Bellingham’s brilliance helped set up two Madrid goals there was a moment to remember why all this was so special.

In the 54th minute, Union stadium speaker Christian Arbeit paid tribute to Damir Kreilach, as the Croat travelled all the way from the States to watch the team he once led when they were still a second division side.

Moments before, Unioners had sung a song with his name. A song which told about the story they were there to celebrate that evening: “We were then with Damir Kreilach in the 2. Liga, soon Europe’s going to know our songs”.

It was a celebration of having gotten there, playing Champions League football against Real Madrid in Berlin. Something that needed to be celebrated even though this is a difficult season for Union, who had recently parted ways with the coach of their historic Bundesliga promotion and had just managed to close a tough streak of 16 matches without a win.

Even though having to play the Champions League in the Olympiastadion and not in their usual Alte Försterei hadn’t brought the Berlin reds any luck. And even though this was probably going to be the last European match for a while.

Because, after all, Unioners didn’t want to forget where they came from. “Alte Försterei, enough said”, read their banner at the start of the match. And one of the smaller banners read: “From the Oberliga to the Champions League”, with the name Oberliga representing both the first division of the East German league where Union played during most of its GDR-existence, and the then third division of the unified German league where they languished at the start of the 90s.

At the time, no one thought Union could ever reach the Bundesliga, let alone play in the Champions League.

With Union trailing 1-2 and 15 minutes to go, Union supporters started a well known chant, which is sung towards the end of tense games: “FC Union, uns’re Liebe (Liebe, Liebe, Liebe!)”, FC Union, our love. It went on and on for around ten minutes, until Alex Král flinged on a ball just outside the box and equalised again.

Again the crowd exploded, if possible even more incredulous than earlier, in a collective outpour of love. They believed they could go on to win the game, but even if they didn’t, they knew they could bow out with enormous pride. It ended how a match against Real Madrid is supposed to end: with the Blancos snatching a late winner.

Yet Unioners stayed in the stadium to let their boys know how proud they were, how much love they were feeling in that moment.

Elimination from Europe seemed like an afterthought: what counted was being there, and being there together. Friendship, community, celebration, a shared emotion.

Football at its best: Liebe, Liebe, Liebe.

You can find Damiano on X and Instagram: @dinamobabel

Going to Berlin

A family reunion

paint it red

Rainy night in Westend

Olim Palus: Once a swamp