Even RB Leipzig can’t stop Union Berlin: In the top game of the 20th match day of the Bundesliga, the capital city are only behind – and still get three very important points. The fans of the second in the table insult RB sports director Max Eberl.
A dream goal, a penalty, three points: In the style of a serious champion candidate, 1. FC Union Berlin won the top game at RB Leipzig and consolidated its position as Bayern’s number one pursuer. After a deficit and a mixed performance at best, the Berliners won the cup winners 2-1 (0-1). Leipzig lost to Union for the fifth time in a row in the Bundesliga and slipped to fifth place. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had anticipated the victory of the Berliners: “In the end it’s a bit too little life, we don’t have a great flow now,” the defending champion’s coach said after his team’s lackluster 3-0. “We’re one point up in the Bundesliga and no more.”
Benjamin Henrichs (24th minute) gave the hosts the lead, Janik Haberer (61st) equalized after a corner. In front of 47,069 fans in the sold-out Leipzig stadium, Robin Knoche (72nd) made the decision with a hand penalty. Union is still just one point behind Munich, for Leipzig a series of 18 games ended without defeat. The supporters in the Berlin block caused trouble in the middle of the second half. On three banners they attacked the Leipzig sports director Max Eberl because of his burnout illness. The 49-year-old was similarly insulted with posters at the game in Cologne last week.
RB had special jerseys inspired by the fan hit “Leipzig on fire” specially made for the game. The stadium was illuminated in red. But at first nothing blazed during the performance on the lawn. Both teams played in similar systems with a back three and neutralized each other accordingly. The biggest topic of conversation was the trick of RB coach Marco Rose, who put left-back Marcel Halstenberg on the right wing and Henrichs on the left. Whatever the plan was – it worked. Henrichs moved into the middle, Union’s new winter signing Josip Juranovic did not intervene. So Henrichs, who has been playing in top form for weeks, just pulled away from a good 18 meters – the lead.
At this point, the fans of the Berliners had already been busy with their entertainment program for almost ten minutes. The viewers of the Köpenickers had traditionally been silent in the first quarter of an hour. It should be a protest against the existence of the opponent. Even Union coach Urs Fischer had noticed before the game that he actually didn’t like it at all.
With Henrich’s goal, the first half was almost over, because the game fell back into its old inconsistent and one-on-one pattern. The hosts could have had chances with a little more precision in the attacking game. But national player Timo Werner in particular made an unfortunate impression at first, lacking timing, game overview and ball control. Leipzig enjoyed 55 percent possession of the ball until the break, Union only came to a conclusion. Sheraldo Becker’s (38th) attempt from a tight angle was defused by Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
To the chagrin of the fans, things didn’t really get any better. It was only Juranovic’s free kick, which was surprisingly aimed at goal, that caused the hello-awake effect, at least for Union. In the corner that followed, Haberer found himself alone in the penalty area and threw the rebound into the corner. Leipzig was punished for the management mode, Rose had warned about the Berlin standards before the game.
Ten minutes later it got even better for Berlin. Mohamed Simakan handed the ball out of the penalty area, referee Daniel Schlager gave a penalty. Knoche converted safely into the middle. Substitute Yussuf Poulsen celebrated the equalizer in the 78th minute. But the video assistant pointed out to Schlager that Werner had been offside beforehand, the goal didn’t count.
