Fourteen time Champions League winners Real Madrid left it late to beat Union Berlin 1-0 in their opening Champions League game.

It only took 45 seconds for Lucas Tousart to be booked for a blatant pull-back on Luka Modric. Joselu almost opened the scoring just four minutes in when his header from a Jude Bellingham was kept out by Frederik Ronnow in the away goal.

After their quick start, Real Madrid rather languished for the next 20 minutes and Union Berlin were the next to get a big chance. After a decent passage of play Aissa Laidouni went for the spectacular bicycle kick but made a real hash of it, with the ball falling very wide of goal.

Aurelien Tchouameni was the next to have a chance, as the ball fell across him only for the French international to blast the ball almost out of the newly rebuilt Bernabeu Stadium.

Frustration was all around and Aurelien Tchouameni was the most guilty flying into a challenge on Alex Kral with the Union Berlin players asking questions if the tackle deserved more.

Carlo Ancelotti will have wanted much more urgency from his Los Blancos side and they certainly gave him that in the second half. Rodrygo hit hit woodwork almost immediately after the restart and the crowd reacted with huge noise getting behind their team.

Joselu hit a Camavinga cut back straight at Frederik Ronnow and it looked only a matter of time that Real Madrid would finally open the scoring. Minutes later the same player hit the woodwork with a downward header and again the Union Berlin goal was living a charmed life.

With 20 minutes left to play Rodrygo had a great chance when picked out by a wide ball but he couldn't sort his feet out and yet again, a Real Madrid chance went missing. Rodrygo then crossed from the right and Leonardo Bonucci showed his vintage quality, sliding in at the near post to get the ball behind for a corner with a brilliant interception as Federico Valverde waited to pounce.

Joselu again went close with seven minutes to go as his shot on the turn whistled wide of the post and maybe, just maybe it looked like Union Berlin were going to hold on. Even with five minutes added on, Union Berlin looked like they would not be denied and they picked up a point in their Champions League debut.

Jude Bellingham broke Union Berlin hearts when a short corner was worked inside and the ball fell beautifully for him to smash home.

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