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![Union Berlin manager Urs Fischer celebrates after the Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen that sealed the club's Champions League spot for next season. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AEJ46TFPKNOGXSTYNZA2CIVT6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4556896a046f386ddc7e71b996cd24faebcbcdfdce5467e3d0e0f578b7aa1f5a&width=400&height=225)
![Union Berlin's Christopher Trimmel celebrate after their Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei that sealed the club's spot in the Champions League on May 27, 2023. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5GN6Q2NSI6FFUAYNM2YYXPDAHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=12fc6befa998c61650088fef3cd42def8a1f4f13ac568280591e7b03716a9ac4&width=400&height=225)
![Union Berlin players celebrate after qualifying for the Champions League. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KEZPCWQPH3DGBY65XDEZJJOUNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=03835a5eb6b618e88729053cec6e73e3eeefe9c486d946e4d362bde90a29e726&width=400&height=225)
![Union Berlin players and fans celebrate after qualifying for the Champions League. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZBQ2QZAOSR3IJM4ZVCBARQPIAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0e0bf76f0aeef78d4132632c307c07a76af3536d232c05c61ac4984f48c7fe9&width=400&height=225)
![Union Berlin players and fans celebrate after qualifying for the Champions League. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4W6M3MXVB4HLXQ3YIFUMJARBXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=d7e3feff4f2baa9f13e5fc796cedbb7f48620c3287beefc9ddf017b16781c70f&width=400&height=225)
![Rani Khedira celebrates with Union Berlin teammates after scoring the only goal of the game against Werder Bremen. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U6DSIS7FR6APB4B2LO2G72K2ZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=af1b96a76ba0ffe99a56636ef4121f39738fba7fbfb5203d6a1a86cff1cdae66&width=400&height=225)
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![Union Berlin players celebrate after socring. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PIC6QV7DJJNQ4QD2RE2GBDBEL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d889d295c0b11bf17faeb34264f0c2771aeb2b185c875aa4a7f470fc9a89e66&width=400&height=225)
![BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 27: the team of Union Berlin with Kevin Behrens (M) celebrate their teams win during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and SV Werder Bremen at Stadion an der alten Försterei on May 27, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer / Getty Images)](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2POEHAKTDVYG6YN7PYNFDSRCLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e24b910f36f2f1fbcfc78bb02d77cd76aabf13f3965f1c5fadc8b4a3654cca2&width=400&height=225)
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![Union Berlin manager Urs Fischer celebrates after the Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen that sealed the club's Champions League spot for next season. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AEJ46TFPKNOGXSTYNZA2CIVT6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4556896a046f386ddc7e71b996cd24faebcbcdfdce5467e3d0e0f578b7aa1f5a&width=400&height=225)
![Union Berlin's Christopher Trimmel celebrate after their Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei that sealed the club's spot in the Champions League on May 27, 2023. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5GN6Q2NSI6FFUAYNM2YYXPDAHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=12fc6befa998c61650088fef3cd42def8a1f4f13ac568280591e7b03716a9ac4&width=400&height=225)
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![Rani Khedira celebrates with Union Berlin teammates after scoring the only goal of the game against Werder Bremen. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U6DSIS7FR6APB4B2LO2G72K2ZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=af1b96a76ba0ffe99a56636ef4121f39738fba7fbfb5203d6a1a86cff1cdae66&width=400&height=225)
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![Union Berlin players celebrate after socring. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PIC6QV7DJJNQ4QD2RE2GBDBEL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d889d295c0b11bf17faeb34264f0c2771aeb2b185c875aa4a7f470fc9a89e66&width=400&height=225)
![BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 27: the team of Union Berlin with Kevin Behrens (M) celebrate their teams win during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and SV Werder Bremen at Stadion an der alten Försterei on May 27, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer / Getty Images)](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2POEHAKTDVYG6YN7PYNFDSRCLA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e24b910f36f2f1fbcfc78bb02d77cd76aabf13f3965f1c5fadc8b4a3654cca2&width=400&height=225)
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Union Berlin's rise: ‘It was already a fairytale, then we qualified for Champions League'
The ‘rebel club out in the woods’ will be mixing it with Europe’s elite after their extraordinary march through the ranks of German football
![Paul Radley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4bea718a-3833-459d-b22e-394141107aed.png?smart=true&auth=9b0d25df28459c73830f10d00934933c01a577dee63bf7a45b39f23e0bdb9f75&width=70&height=70)
Paul Radley
June 13, 2023
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