In their Group C match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, Real Madrid defeated a resolute Union Berlin 1-0, ruining the Bundesliga team’s Champions League debut. Jude Bellingham struck deep in additional time.
In the first half, Real controlled the most of the ball but struggled to penetrate Union, who defended staunchly and were well marshalled at the back by seasoned Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci, a summer acquisition from Juventus.
Rodrygo twice came close to opening the score for the 14-time winners, first seeing his close-range effort stopped by goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow and then launching a powerful volley that cannoned against the post. The second half began quickly for the home team.
As the second half went on and Union started to falter, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad kept applying pressure. Eventually, in the 94th minute, midfielder Bellingham scored his sixth goal in six games this season after turning in a rebound.