Thanks to striker Jordan Siebatcheu, Union Berlin has expanded its flawless record this year and has jumped back to the top of the Bundesliga for at least 24 hours. The 2:1 (1:0) against FSV Mainz 05 was the fifth win in the fifth competitive game in 2023 for the team of coach Urs Fischer in the table past FC Bayern Munich, who will play in Wolfsburg on Sunday (5.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on DAZN).
In front of 22,012 spectators, Kevin Behrens gave the hosts the lead (32nd minute). Former Union player Marcus Ingvartsen equalized for coach Bo Svensson’s guests with a hand penalty (79′), before Siebatcheu secured the victory for the Berliners with his first goal since September (84′).
In the Alte Försterei, the Irons, who led the table for a long time in the first half of the season, have now been unbeaten for 15 league games. With the victory, they also set their record of four consecutive victories in the Bundesliga. After two English weeks, the Köpenickers can catch their breath before they go to Leipzig for the top game next Saturday (6.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky). The following Thursday, the side travel to Ajax Amsterdam for the first leg of the Europa League knockout stages.
Due to the defeat, the guests from Rheinhessen remain in the lower middle of the table with 23 points. Mainz got four points from the first four league games of the year. Next weekend the team welcomes direct competitor FC Augsburg. After the excitement about the failed Isco transfer and progress against Wolfsburg, Fischer made the expected changes to his starting eleven. Behrens, Tuesday’s winning goalscorer, replaced Siebatcheu. Captain Christopher Trimmel and Jérôme Roussillon started on the outside.
Mainz new signing Ajorque with good promotions
Svensson was allowed to stand on the sidelines after his sensational red card against Bayern (0: 4) in the cup during the week. His ban only applies to the cup competition. Attackers Karim Onisiwo and Jae-sung Lee, who were initially on the bench against Bayern due to illness, started again from the start.
The Rheinhessen counterattacked after securing the ball with their new centre-forward Ludovic Ajorque. The 28-year-old Frenchman knew how to keep the home side busy with his physique and appeared dangerously in front of Union keeper Frederik Rönnow several times. However, the Dane cleared all attempts in the first half. Overall, the Mainz remained too harmless.
The Köpenicker controlled the game, had significantly more ball possession, but didn’t get many opportunities themselves. Roussillon (10th) and Rani Khedira (11th), in his 50th Bundesliga game for Union, narrowly failed. After a nice lateral transfer via Khedira, Paul Seguin hit a sharp cross from the right. Behrens pushed in for the deserved lead.
The guests tasted a little more. Union’s defense remained mostly sovereign. Great scoring chances remained rare. Then Seguin got the ball in the penalty area. After the video referee pointed out, Florian Badstübner decided on a penalty. Ingvartsen, still working for the Irons from 2019 to 2021, transformed safely. In the turmoil shortly before the end, substitute Siebatcheu switched the fastest and scored from close range.