For a long time, the Unioners around Timo Baumgartl (left) defended themselves – until Thomas Müller put the lid on it to make it 5-2 for Bayern.
Photo: dpa/Andreas Gora
Midfielder Rani Khedira hung his head. Defender Timo Baumgartl sank to his knees. The two players of 1. FC Union Berlin knew by now at the latest that there was nothing more to be gained in the home game against FC Bayern Munich. Eleven minutes before the end of regular time, national player Thomas Müller had just scored the goal to make it 2: 5 in the An der Alten Försterei stadium.
It stayed that way until the end. “We weren’t there in the first half. We were too far apart, never got the ball pressure and never ran through. We didn’t stress Bayern. After the connection we felt a bit of hope, «said Union coach Urs Fischer. “I saw Union’s face in the second half. We were closer to 2: 3 than Bayern to 1: 4. The team showed mentality and passion. “
For the hosts, who had challenged the leaders from Munich to the top game as fifth in the table, an impressive series of 21 home games without a complete loss of points ended with the result-based defeat. Munich, on the other hand, was able to conceal the trauma they had suffered from the DFB Cup at Borussia Mönchengladbach (0: 5) on Wednesday at least a little. “We are really happy that we were able to show the desired reaction. We played against a very strong opponent at home. In the first half we controlled the game and we deservedly led it 3-1, ”said Bayern’s assistant coach Dino Toppmöller. “We were aware that we would have an extreme impact in the second half. We had a bit of luck there. Union came back again with the 2: 4, but we showed another reaction. “
Toppmöller represented Julian Nagelsmann, who had corona for the last time. Bavaria’s head coach followed the game in quarantine in his technically perfectly equipped kitchen in the home office. On Tuesday (9 p.m.) in the Champions League home game against Benfica Lisbon, Nagelsmann can sit on the bench again. Before that, he will tell his protégés what suited and displeased him against Union.
At first, the record champion performed as one would expect from a battered boxer. But after 35 minutes, the guests led more than befitting with 3-0. Striker Robert Lewandowski first sank a hand penalty into the lower left corner. Then the Pole slammed a direct free kick halfway up the right side of the goal. In addition, national player Leroy Sané pushed the ball over the line from close range. “We didn’t get in that well. Bayern put a lot of pressure on and took the lead through two set pieces. That’s annoying, “said Union defender Niko Gießelmann.
Union seemed a little afraid of its own courage in the Alte Försterei, which otherwise functions as a fortress. The atmosphere was splendid. Union had received the green light from the Senate Administration for 16,509 visitors under 3G conditions. There were almost 6,000 more spectators than on the first five match days. The “new” visitors also included the Ultras, who for the first time since the lockdown in March 2020 gave everything in a Bundesliga game, at least acoustically. Until the maximum number of 22,012 spectators is reached, the active scene will largely forego optical support with fence flags, banners and choreographies.
The loud atmosphere may have put too much pressure on Union, even if the team was traditionally celebrated by their fans both during and after the game. However, the first goals conceded were too easy. Before the penalty kick to 0: 1, defender Paul Jaeckel had his hand too high. At 0-2, goalkeeper Andreas Luthe had to let Lewandowski’s free kick pass into the goalkeeper’s corner.
The Iron, who competed without the injured striker Max Kruse, saved their face and never gave up. Gießelmann and Julian Ryerson were able to make the match at least temporarily exciting with their goals to 1: 3 and 2: 4. Bayern were already thinking of a preliminary decision after the hit by Kingsley Coman to 1: 4. But only Müller put the lid on.
In contrast to Bayern, Union is still represented in three competitions. On Thursday (9 pm) the Köpenickers will continue in the Europa Conference League with a “home game” against Rotterdam in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
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