In a game that was a single chant to the concentration of two defensively flawless teams, Union Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen took important points from each other for the end of the season. On the fifth-to-last matchday of the Bundesliga, the two most stable teams of the current calendar year parted ways in a “great, intense zero-zero game”, as Union coach Urs Fischer said, with a goalless result that was very performance-related.
Although Union remains third in the table, they can now feel the breath of the pursuers breathing down their necks: Freiburg are fourth on points after the 1-0 win in Cologne and are behind the Berliners because of the worse goal difference; By beating Hoffenheim (also 1-0) in fifth place, Leipzig came close to two points. Leverkusen, on the other hand, is eight points behind fourth place in the Champions League. Coach Xabi Alonso does not think about giving up the goal of striving for the maximum possible. “We have to be realistic. But we were in a much worse position two or four months ago,” explained the Spaniard, who took charge of Leverkusen when they were a relegation contender.
Alonso, who as an active player never had to travel to Köpenick and, by his own admission, enjoyed the visit to the cramped, traditional stadium, was also able to point out that an important series lasted. Leverkusen are now 14 games unbeaten and Alonso was proud of that. The Unioners had wrested respect from him in advance, after the game he saw it confirmed: “Today we felt (firsthand) why Union is unbeaten at home this season,” he said.
Strictly speaking, Union has not lost in the Bundesliga at their own stadium since February 2022, when Borussia Dortmund won 3-0. And if Union Saint-Gilloise hadn’t won the Europa League in the Alte Försterei, the aura of invincibility of the Unioners this season would be absolute. Alonso also quoted the quip of Dutchman Johan Cruyff, who, like Alonso, became famous with the shirt number 14: “If you can’t win, you at least have to make sure you don’t lose.”
“It’s just difficult to get through combinations here in this stadium,” complained German international Florian Wirtz
He himself did a lot in the initial phase to ensure that this was successful. Due to circumstances, he had pushed the nominal central defender Edmond Tapsoba to the double six, and Alonso assisted him so much with intensive coaching that he took off his half-length winter coat again after a few minutes: it was too warm and uncomfortable to wave.
His interventions became necessary because the Unioners ignited the game as soon as it started. After five minutes, Sheraldo Becker saved from 20 meters, Lukas Hradecky had no major problems. After that, 04 defender Kouakou Kossonou was in dire need twice: first he thwarted a chance from Becker (8th minute), then he was ready against Jordan Siebatcheu in extremis (10th). Alonso’s adjustments gradually bore fruit and Leverkusen took greater control of the game. And that found expression in a lightning counterattack in which Florian Wirtz put the ball on Moussa Diaby. But the French missed the target.
The rest of the game was mainly characterized by tactics and the Union’s tough defensive stance when Leverkusen had more possession of the ball. The Leverkusen team tried constantly to put their opponents in order: they kept changing the game. But that turned out to be sterile time and time again. “It’s just difficult to get through here in this stadium. They know how to correctly assess every meter here,” complained German national player Florian Wirtz, who repeatedly tried to tear a hole in the Köpenickers’ defensive sieve through individual creativity – without breaking through Success.
“We kept up and played for 90 minutes against what I consider to be the team with the best form in the league,” said Union coach Urs Fischer (right, with Xabi Alonso).
(Photo: O.Behrendt/Contrast/Imago)
The second half then initially gave birth to an overweight of the Unioner. Midfielder Aïssa Laïdouni suddenly found himself in a good, central shooting position at the edge of the penalty area, but he narrowly missed the gable (48′). Becker then met a similar fate when he attempted a flick from the inside left position. Otherwise, the number of top-class opportunities was limited. Not because the two teams passively waited for the opponent to make a mistake, when it came to initiative, both teams were equal. But: Both defensively behaved similarly flawlessly. Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow only had to excel once: a powerful headbutt from Leverkusen defender Bakker on a cross from Jeremie Frimpong (86th) in the final phase, which belonged to the guests.
What follows from this point? The results of the rivals in the fight for a place in a European competition were at best acknowledged by the Union. “We’re looking at ourselves,” said striker Sheraldo Becker. Coach Urs Fischer was pleased that his team was able to neutralize Leverkusen’s transition game. The opponent was “hardly able to pick up speed,” he praised.
“We kept up and played for 90 minutes against what I consider to be the team with the best form in the league,” said Fischer, and you could tell that that was a value in itself for him. Everything else is extra: including the yield of 56 points, which will probably lead to Union setting a new club record. There are only two points missing – with four remaining games.