NAPLES, Italy: Union Berlin claimed their first ever point in the Champions League on Wednesday after escaping against Napoli with a 1-1 draw on a day of fan tensions in southern Italy.
Urs Fischer’s team snapped a 12-match losing streak thanks to David Fofana’s 52nd-minute rebound finish which secured a hard-fought draw against the Italian champions.
Union stay bottom of Group C, six points behind second-placed Napoli and are unlikely to reach the last 16 but cheered the rowdy fans who packed the away end at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after clashes with police and home supporters in the lead-up to the match.
Napoli would have taken a big step toward the knockout stage with a win and looked set to do just that when Matteo Politano diverted home the hosts’ 39th-minute opener.
Instead Rudi Garcia’s side are two points behind leaders Real Madrid, who can qualify from the group with a home win over Braga later on Wednesday.
Napoli, who dominated the match but struggled to create against a well-drilled Union defense are still in a strong position to qualify as they are four points ahead of Braga.
But they travel to Madrid next and will now have a nervier time trying to get out of the group with Braga coming to Naples in their final group match.
Wednesday’s match was preceded by supporter disorder in Naples as police arrested 11 Germans after around 300 Union ultras rampaged through the center of Naples on Tuesday in similar scenes to when Eintracht Frankfurt fans ran amok in the city in March.
Tensions continued in the run-up to and during the match, with scuffles outside the stadium and Napoli fans pelting fireworks at the away end throughout the first half of a match which ended with the Union faction celebrating a historic point.
Union Berlin take first Champions League point from Napoli
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Union Berlin take first Champions League point from Napoli
- Urs Fischer’s team snapped a 12-match losing streak thanks to David Fofana’s 52nd-minute rebound finish
- Napoli would have taken a big step toward the knockout stage with a win
Premier League’s Nottingham Forest fires head coach Sean Dyche
- “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” the club said in a statement
NOTTINGHAM: Nottingham Forest has fired Sean Dyche and the Premier League team is looking for its fourth head coach of the season.
Dyche was relieved of his duties late Wednesday following a goalless draw with the last-place Wolves, having been in charge for just 114 days. Forest’s failure to convert any of their numerous chances against Wolves left them three points clear of the relegation zone.
“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach,” the club said in a statement early Thursday. “We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and we wish them the best of luck for the future.
“We will be making no further comment at this time.”
Forest finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo last season, missing out on a Champions League spot after a poor end to the campaign. Nuno signed a new three-year deal at the City Ground in June 2025, but was fired in September after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was swiftly brought in as the Portuguese coach’s replacement, but lasted only 40 days in the job with Marinakis ending his tenure within minutes of a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
The draw Wednesday’ left Forest with just two wins from their last 10 matches in the Premier League — a run during which they also exited the FA Cup to Championship side Wrexham.
