Union Smashes Attendance Record at Köpenick, Leaves Real Madrid in Dust
Nantes' four-week-old attendance record at the UEFA Youth League was shattered by Union Berlin on November 8. The Köpenickers welcomed an impressive 12,450 fans, outdoing the French team's previous record set against HJK Helsinki (final score 1:0).
The extraordinary turnout was chiefly due to the Eisern's invitations to day-care children, school kids, and teachers. Over 300 groups from Berlin and Brandenburg registered, resulting in a lively and rambunctious crowd that supported the young Union talents.
Coach Marco Grote described the experience as "definitely great", praising the atmosphere and the support from the record crowd. Iker Bravo, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, capitalized on the electric atmosphere early on (4'), scoring the first goal for Real Madrid.
The Köpenickers put up a valiant effort, with Timon Kramer coming close to equalizing in the dying minutes of the first half. However, Real Madrid managed to score again after the break, and Union fell short, losing by a score of 2:0.
Despite the loss, the record attendance made the Köpenickers proud. The match was the Union youngsters' most significant fan support to date, and their performance against the Spanish powerhouse was a testament to their growth and development.
The Köpenickers may have lost, but they left a lasting impression at the Youth League and in the hearts of their record-breaking crowd. With a second-highest attendance ever in this competition, Union Berlin's match against Real Madrid will be remembered as a historic moment in the UEFA Youth League.
