Real Madrid vs Union Berlin - Champions League: Clash at Santiago Bernabeu

Real Madrid, the perennial contenders, kickstart their 2023/24 UEFA Champions League campaign in style as they take on Union Berlin at the newly-refurbished Santiago Bernabeu. After a miraculous run to glory in 2021/22, Los Blancos were ousted by treble-winners Manchester City last season. But with a new dawn marked by the arrival of Jude Bellingham and the departure of Karim Benzema, they are once again among the favorites. On the other hand, Union Berlin, making their Champions League debut, is poised to cause an upset. In this preview, we delve into Real Madrid vs Union Berlin - Champions League: Clash at Santiago Bernabeu.

Match Details

• Kick-off Time: 17:45 BST / 12:45 ET / 09:45 PT
• Location: Madrid, Spain
• Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
• Date: Wednesday, 20 September
• Referee: Espen Eskås (NOR)
• VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)

Real Madrid and Union Berlin have no prior H2H record. Their current form in all competitions is as follows:

• Real Madrid: WWWWW
• Union Berlin: LLWWW

How to Watch

For those eager to catch the action, here's how you can watch Real Madrid vs Union Berlin on TV and via live stream:

• United Kingdom: TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ App
• United States: Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, ViX
• Canada: DAZN

Real Madrid Team News & Predicted Lineup

While Ferland Mendy nears a return, Fran Garcia's impressive performance has solidified his position in the squad. Notable absentees for Real Madrid include Vinicius Junior, Thibaut Courtois, and Eder Militao. Jude Bellingham is ready for his first Champions League start.

Expect Real Madrid to field a 4-3-1-2 formation:

• Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Garcia; Camavinga, Valverde, Modric; Bellingham; Joselu, Rodrygo.

Union Berlin Team News & Predicted Lineup

Union Berlin boasts a deep squad, and coach Urs Fischer may shuffle his lineup. Kevin Volland is available despite his Bundesliga suspension, and Sheraldo Becker could return. Josip Juranovic and new arrival Leonardo Bonucci are likely starters.

Union Berlin is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation:

• Ronnow; Knoche, Bonucci, Diogo Leite; Juranovic, Kral, Laidouni, Aaronson, Gosens; Becker, Behrens.

Score Prediction

Union Berlin aims to operate efficiently on the counter and surprise the hosts, but Real Madrid's pedigree in the tournament suggests a competitive affair. Our prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Union Berlin.

In summary, this Champions League clash promises excitement and anticipation as Real Madrid seeks to reclaim their former glory while Union Berlin endeavors to make a statement in their debut season. All eyes will be on Santiago Bernabeu on September 20th for what could be a memorable encounter.

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