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
Man City chasing ‘world’s best’ in Arsenal, says Guardiola
- “Absolutely, the best team right now in the world,” said Guardiola on the challenge of chasing down Arsenal
- “Hopefully we can be close and getting better, getting better and have the chance to catch them”
MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are tasked with chasing down the best team in the world in Premier League leaders Arsenal as he launched a defiant defense of his players after a chastening week.
City were well beaten by local rivals Manchester United last weekend before suffering one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history away to Norway’s Bodo/Glam on Tuesday.
Guardiola’s men are yet to win a league game in 2026, allowing Arsenal to open up a seven-point lead in the title race.
But the City boss backed his “extraordinary” group of players to respond as they remain in contention for silverware in four competitions.
“Absolutely, the best team right now in the world,” said Guardiola on the challenge of chasing down Arsenal, who have also won all seven of their Champions League matches.
“So look in the Champions League, in the Premier League, look in (the) FA Cup, in Carabao Cup — it’s the best team right now.
“Hopefully we can be close and getting better, getting better and have the chance to catch them.
“I have an extraordinary team, an extraordinary group of players. And we are all together. We are a fantastic football team, I don’t have any doubts about that.”
City’s dip in form has coincided with the loss of key defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injury.
The arrival of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace should mitigate their absence with the England international set to make his debut against Wolves on Saturday.
“It’s going to help us because the experience of Mark is exceptional,” added Guardiola.
“Considering the absence of central defenders it’s really good.”
Dias, Gvardiol and Nico Gonzalez remain sidelined for City, but Matheus Nunes could return after missing the last two games with a virus.
