Real Madrid 0-0 Union Berlin – Champions League LIVE: Jude Bellingham starts for Los Blancos as Leonardo Bonucci faces old enemies with German debutants

Frederik Ronnow is an imposing presence between the sticks for Union as he deals with a corner from Luka Modric and a subsequent cross, winning the ball back with confidence.

Joselu has just headed out at the far post after a cross from Lucas Vasquez coming from the right. It could have easily gone in.

Union fancied their chances with crosses into the box and Madrid were careless in their handling, but Kepa eventually came away with the ball.

Jude Bellingham just lofted a lovely ball over the top and Joselu got his head on it, but it was a comfortable save for Frederik Ronnow.

Kevin Behrens puts the ball into the box for Sheraldo Becker but he fails to convert from close range under pressure from Antonio Rudiger.

Lucas Tousart receives a warning for a foul on Luka Modric in the middle of the park. A little soft, a shot which brought down the Croatian midfielder in the first minute on the halfway line.

Real Madrid gets us started.

Anthem-like music echoes across the pitch as players and fans remember those who recently lost their lives in Morocco and Libya.

The musical theme of the Champions League provokes boos from some supporters.

Players line up next to each other and officials in the tunnel, exchanging punches and stern expressions while wide-eyed mascots admire the majesty of their heroes.

Kepa will always be remembered as the goalkeeper who refused to let go.

During the 2019 League Cup final, he defied Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri’s orders to replace Willy Caballero. Wembley was shocked.

Now here he is in Madrid, living his best life. He rebuilt his reputation at Chelsea, regaining his place, and this summer Madrid picked him as a happy loan replacement for an injured Thibaut Courtois.

I imagine Carlo Ancelotti’s players would like to make their own manager swallow his words!

It is rare that the most successful team in the competition is not favorite for the trophy. They just find a way to win.

We start at 5:45 p.m.

Real Madrid enter this evening with a perfect record in this campaign with five wins in five La Liga outings.

The addition of Jude Bellingham behind the front two proved telling. Often he appears in the box with a tap-in – as much as a midfielder, he has been an excellent poacher for Madrid. They are at the top of the rankings.

The union launched its campaign modestly. A few wins and a few defeats put them eighth in the Bundesliga. They lost two in a row.

One of their two strikers tonight, Kevin Behrens, scored four league goals.

It’s also a fun moment for Lucas Tousart, the midfielder they signed this summer from rivals Hertha Berlin. Goodbye Hertha, hello Champions League.

Union are looking to build on their fourth place in Germany’s top flight.

Grizzled midfield workhorse Toni Kroos won’t start tonight, but he will hope to provide some quality touches off the bench – if only to take one over on his brother!

It’s a tale of two cities and one Kroos family, as his brother Felix Kroos is part of the Union U19 coaching staff.

Madrid or Union, white or red, old or young, passion is in full swing outside the Bernabeu.

The decibel levels are going to be ridiculous in a real earth cauldron.

Doesn’t Carlo Ancelotti look as cool as always?

Even in the face of an avalanche, he would seem unfazed. He has already won four Champions Leagues. He saw everything.

For Union Berlin fans, seeing their team in the Champions League must be surreal, even given their recent history. This is a club with new injuries.

It wasn’t until 2004 that they nearly went bankrupt. A little over ten years ago, they were competing for fourth place in Germany. Supporters helped rebuild a stand with their own hands and donated blood for the club. How the hell did they get here?

Dominic Hogan, take a look. Read below.

And the Union announced its line-up to represent the club for the first time in this competition.

No surprise as defensive stalwart Leonardo Bonucci is there from the start for his debut, as is Robin Gosens, who played a part in Inter Milan’s defeat to Manchester City in the final in June.

The Union tends to field a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-2-1.

Carlo Ancelotti released his team sheet well before kick-off and this is the line-up he will line up to face Union Berlin.

Jude Bellingham starts, of course.

Such is the enthusiasm around Jude Bellingham that pundits on television and in pubs across the country are tipping the young midfielder as a potential Ballon d’Or winner.

Having joined Los Blancos this summer, he is set to start for them for the first time in the Champions League, having already made his mark in the tournament with Borussia Dortmund.

He has already broken several records: youngest Englishman to score in the competition, youngest player to start ten matches, most goals scored by a teenager (even if he is 20 now), etc. You’d be backing him to dazzle in the Champions League for years to come.

Under bright lights, the Union discovered their new surroundings yesterday during a training session at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The iconic venue hosts tonight’s clash.

There are some seasoned pros in this team: nine-time Serie A winner Leonardo Bonucci commands the defense. There’s also Kevin Volland in the offensive ranks, but we’ll get to that later.

Hello and welcome to the Mail Sport live blog as Real Madrid give Union Berlin a baptism of fire in the Champions League.

We’re in for an exciting encounter as the 14-time competition winners welcome starry-eyed newbies.

Don’t make the mistake of writing off Union, though. It’s a perilous road. The German team has exceeded expectations in recent years – and they would like to prove their doubters wrong tonight.

We’ll have all the preparation and action right here. Don’t go anywhere.