Soccer Bundesliga
Union Berlin wins in Bremen and jumps to second place
Jannik Haberer celebrates Union Berlin’s 1-0 win against Werder Bremen
© Stuart Franklin / Getty Images
In the Bundesliga, Union Berlin started chasing FC Bayern with a win in Bremen. Eintracht Frankfurt only manages a draw against Freiburg.
Eintracht Frankfurt has lost its role as Bayern’s number one hunter for the time being, SC Freiburg is back on track after the 0-6 debacle in Wolfsburg. The Baden and the Hessians separated at the end of the first half of the Bundesliga on Wednesday 1: 1 (0: 1). French striker Randal Kolo Muani scored to give the visitors the lead in the 42nd minute, while German international Matthias Ginter scored the equalizer for Freiburg (47th) in front of 34,700 spectators at the Europa-Park Stadium. Eintracht is fourth before the game at FC Bayern Munich on Saturday, Freiburg slipped to sixth place in the table.
Eintracht had to do without Kevin Trapp at short notice. The national goalkeeper was out due to a cold and was replaced by 21-year-old Diant Ramaj, who came from 1. FC Heidenheim in 2021 and made his season debut after just one Bundesliga appearance.
SV Werder Bremen – 1. FC Union Berlin
The fact remains: Werder Bremen cannot win at home against Union Berlin. The guests also prevailed in the third duel between the two Bundesliga teams in the Weser Stadium. Europa League participant Union won the promoted team 2-1 (1-1) and is now second in the table.
In front of 41,500 spectators, Amos Pieper put Werder ahead four days after the 7-1 debacle at 1. FC Köln (14th minute). Janik Haberer (18th) and Kevin Behrens (46th) turned the game around for the Berliners, who with 33 points made the best half series in their first division history perfect. For Werder, on the other hand, it was their fourth defeat in a row – and on Saturday VfL Wolfsburg are the team of the moment in Bremen.
FC Augsburg – Borussia Monchengladbach
Art shooter Mergim Berisha gave FC Augsburg their first win since the beginning of October and put Borussia Mönchengladbach under further pressure. With a wonderful volley with the outside of his foot in the 82nd minute, the striker was the match winner for the determined home side in the 1-0 (0-0) win in front of 23,158 spectators on Wednesday evening. Even the return of French vice world champion Marcus Thuram did not bring the offensively pale Borussia in the end anything. She has no points this year and has not had a three-pointer away from home in the Bundesliga. After their spectacular 3:4 win at Borussia Dortmund, the Augsburgers finally rewarded themselves for their attacking efforts and celebrated a win again after eight games.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen – VfL Bochum
Bayer Leverkusen rolls up the field in the Bundesliga further from behind. When Florian Wirtz returned to the starting XI after 318 days, last year’s third-placed team celebrated their fifth win in a row thanks to an assist from the international in a 2-0 (1-0) win over VfL Bochum. As a result, the Werkself have worked their way up to eighth place after a disastrous start to the season, and the European Cup positions are within sight again sooner than expected.
Edmond Tapsoba with a penalty kick (8th minute) and Adam Hlozek on a cross from Wirtz (52nd) scored the goals for Leverkusen. A series of three wins ended for Bochum. The Westphalians last celebrated four successes in a row in 1980. VfL slipped back to the relegation place at the end of the first half of the season.
FSV Mainz 05 – Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund scored the first three away points of the new year in the hoped-for race to catch up in the Bundesliga. BVB, who have been weak away from home until now, won 2-1 (1-1) at FSV Mainz 05 thanks to a late goal by Giovanni Reyna in the third minute of added time. Coach Edin Terzic’s team has 31 points at the end of the first half of the season. Mainz have only 20 points.
South Korea’s World Cup participant Jae-Sung Lee gave Mainz the lead after less than two minutes. Dortmund new signing Julian Ryerson equalized in the fourth minute.