Rainy Night in Westend: 1. FC Union Berlin vs SSC Napoli

Words: Damiano Benzoni

Images: Damiano Benzoni

As the Olympiastadion was slowly filling up, the PA System played “Why does it always rain on me?” by Travis. It seemed a rather apt song. Not only for the torrential downpour that seems to welcome any Union Berlin European night, but also for the eight defeats in a row the former East Berlin side was looking to end in a Champions League match against Serie A title holders Napoli.

It wasn’t an easy match for the Unioners: after two injury-time defeats in as many UCL matches, somebody was joking that the game plan was to steal the fourth official’s electric substitution board.

It was also a night of soul searching, fuelling the unease of having to play far away from the Alte Försterei in the other part of town. In the Westend neighbourhood rather than in Köpenick, and in a stadium that normally hosts city rivals Hertha.

It meant coming to terms with some of the contradictions that came to the surface with Union’s unexpected rise from the 2. Bundesliga to the Champions League: the irritation towards bandwagoners and tourists who look for the now cool club at the expense of the already scarce availability of tickets for lifelong fans. A difficult balance to keep between being a welcoming club for new Unioners, preserving the ethos of the Union support and discouraging shady secondary market moves.

The choreography shown right before the Champions League anthem was sung made sense. Instead of raging against the UEFA regulations that pushed the club to move their UCL fixtures away from the Olympiastadion, the ultras decided to make it clear: “Eisern ist… nie zu vergessen, wo man herkommt”. Supporting Union means never forgetting where one comes from.

©Damiano Benzoni/ Terrace Edition. 1. FC Union Berlin vs SSC Napoli. Olympiastadion.

The ethos of supporting Union was spelled out clearly in smaller banners, a decalogue of how Unioners feel fans should conduct themselves: “Rub salt onto the wounds of commercial football, leave your phone in your pocket during the game, contrast repression, don’t leave the stadium before the final whistle, be hoarse after a game, stand as long as possible, stay together in hard situations, always stand back up, never boo your own team”.

Why does it always rain on me? It was a reckoning on the sporting side as well, among rumours of player discontent. But a brave performance on the pitch was not enough to avoid the ninth defeat in a row. Union, after many shaky performances, was able to remember what it can do best. Tight defence, snap counterattacks.

They seemed to dominate the game even though they left Napoli to control possession. They even rejoiced at a goal, only to see it disallowed shortly after.

Napoli didn’t impress, but they had what Union lacked: a pick to unlock their opponents’ defence, the mercurial Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. It was he who provided a lone moment of brilliance to set up Giacomo Raspadori’s goal and decide the game.

It was a sour defeat, but once again Unioners backed up their boys, honouring the decalogue they had displayed earlier.

After the final whistle their throats were hoarse, their hearts were broken, but they were all still in the stadium, still singing, still standing together by their team.

You can find Damiano on Twitter and Instagram: @dinamobabel

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