Real Madrid Faces Union Berlin Debutance Team, Carlo Ancelotti Doesn't Want To View Remeh

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. (Photo: Twitter @realmadrid)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid will host Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first match of the 2023/2024 Champions League Group C elimination, Wednesday, September 20.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team would treat this match specially. The reason is, for Ancelotti, the Champions League is a special competition.

"We want to start the group stage well and we play at home," said Ancelotti, quoted from the club's official website.

This match is Union Berlin's first appearance in the Champions League scene. However, Ancelotti did not want to underestimate his opponent.

Even though the opposing team is a debutant team, Ancelotti does not underestimate it because the team coached by Urs Fischer, according to him, has a solid game organization.

"They are a new team in the Champions League but the fact that they are here means they are performing very well. Their defense is well organized, solid and playing with intensity," the 64-year-old coach said, as quoted by Antara.

"We have studied them carefully and hopefully later we can perform a good performance," he continued.

Los Blancos are a strong candidate for the Champions League title winner because they are the most successful team in the tournament between clubs on the blue continent with 14 trophies. However, the Italian coach was reluctant to consider his team as the favorite to bring back the Big Ear trophy this season.

"Real Madrid is a team that will fight until the end. We never thought of ourselves as favorites, just as I don't think City did. They won it last year, they could win the Champions League," said Ancelotti.