Bundesliga – Union Berlin saves itself to win a point in Frankfurt
IMAGO / Jan Huebner
Audio: rbb24 Inforadio | March 30, 2024 | Daniel Höhr | Image: IMAGO / Jan Huebner
Union Berlin drew 0-0 with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Iron Men had to tremble for a long time, especially in the second half, and were lucky that Frankfurt couldn’t convert their superiority into goals.
- The 0-0 draw in Frankfurt is the fifth clean sheet game of the current Bundesliga season
- Union Berlin is at least eight points away from the relegation place at the end of the match day
- 2,500 fans who traveled along supported the Union players
- Coach Nenad Bjelica sent the same team onto the pitch as in the win against Bremen
- Union missed several good chances, but also had to thank goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow for the 0-0 draw
Union Berlin remains unbeaten for the second game in a row – on Saturday afternoon, the Köpenickers drew 0-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt. In the first half, Union presented itself on par despite having less possession of the ball, but thanks to a very stable defense and constant pinpricks. In the second half, however, the Hessian home team converted their many possessions into scoring chances, and Union was under constant fire. Goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow and many blocking Union legs prevented a deficit, so the encounter ended 0-0. A result that the Iron Men will be happy with.
After 27 league games, Union moved up to twelfth place in the table thanks to the points they gained – meaning they remain in the middle of the table.
Union defensively disciplined, offensively too harmless
An attack that mirrors the initial phase: Frankfurt had control of the game, but Union looked more grippy on the ball and more determined going forward. So neither team was able to gain a clear advantage; after 15 minutes, the Berliners, who defended compactly, had at least led the scoring statistics.
Left a great opportunity unused in the first half: Union Berlin’s Yorbe Vertessen (middle).
In a game in which both teams tried to bridge the midfield as quickly as possible, there were few clear chances to score. On the one hand, because Frankfurt repeatedly showed good playful approaches, but missed the finish too ornately. On the other hand, because the Union team worked in a disciplined manner against the ball, offered little defensively, but were able to create fewer and fewer needle pricks as the first half went on because the balls were lost too quickly.
It wasn’t until the 27th minute that the Köpenick team managed their next dangerous offensive moment, but Brenden Aaronson flicked the ball unchallenged over the Eintracht goal from around 15 meters after a very impressive counterattack. However, the goal would not have counted anyway due to an offside position.
In the minutes that followed, nothing changed in the balance of power: Frankfurt controlled possession of the game but hardly posed any offensive threats. Union did well defensively, but gave up a lot of possession and presence in the final third of the attack. So an overall rather uneventful half went into the break 0-0.
Union survives Frankfurt’s usury of opportunities unscathed
The second half also began with a missed great opportunity for Berlin. Frankfurt’s Skhiri wanted to bring the ball back to Trapp from the center, but completely overlooked Union striker Kaufmann. The attacker took the ball perfectly into the barrel and moved into the penalty area from the right. He looked for a shot in the short corner from 13 meters, but only hit the side netting.
A shocking moment in the 50th minute: Frankfurt goalkeeper Trapp and Kaufmann each went to the ball in the penalty area and crashed into each other violently. Both had to be treated for minutes afterwards, but were able to continue playing. It was a lively start to the second half.
In the 57th minute, Union goalkeeper Rönnow distinguished himself once again. Ansgar Knauff took Hugo Ekitike in the penalty area, who shot from around seven meters, but the angle became a bit too acute. Rönnow extended his leg in time and was able to strongly parry the shot into the far corner. Three minutes later, a cross from Omar Marmoush rushed through the Union penalty area, but narrowly missed several Frankfurt feet – luck for the Berliners.
It was a phase in which the Hessian home side became stronger and more dangerous in their shots. Union was constricted in their own penalty area and could hardly break free. One Frankfurt attack followed the next, and the Union was swimming.
Rönnow makes the people of Frankfurt despair
Union coach Bjelica reacted and made three changes in the 65th minute. Kevin Volland, Benedict Hollerbach and Aissa Laidouni came into the game for Kaufmann, Vertessen and Aaronson. However, nothing changed in the momentum, Frankfurt stayed on the trigger and almost scored the deserved 1-0 again in the 66th minute. Marmoush put Ebimbe in a promising position, but Rönnow deflected the midfielder’s low shot and the ball rolled through his legs but still towards the goal line. Doekhi was there and cleared the ball in desperate need.
This is how it went until the final whistle: Frankfurt held on to Union’s penalty area, but bit its teeth against FCU keeper Rönnow and the many blocking Union limbs. Despite the long tremors on the part of Köpenick, the encounter ended 0-0.
The reactions to the game
Christopher Trimmel (1. FC Union Berlin): “We are satisfied. A point away in Frankfurt is very good. […] We have developed well in the last few weeks and months and don’t want to make things easy for our opponents.”
Nenad Bjelica (1. FC Union Berlin): “Of course it could have been three points, but it could also have been zero. Eintracht Frankfurt pressed hard in the second half and took some dangerous shots. We would have, especially in the first half, If we could have played a few counterattack situations better, then we might have gotten three points.”
Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt): “We are disappointed, we wanted to take three points. In the first half we didn’t create enough chances, in the second we did well, but just didn’t have the necessary bit of luck.”
The voices in the audio
The game in the live ticker
Broadcast: rbb24, March 30, 2024, 9:45 p.m