Grischa Prömel’s second league goal of the campaign was cancelled out in the second half as 1. FC Union Berlin were held by Arminia Bielefeld to a 1-1 draw.
The 23-year-old midfielder netted with a minute left in the first half at the Bielefelder Alm, but Jeff Sabeine's men levelled in the second period through Andreas Voglsammer.
Despite the setback, Urs Fischer's side hold on to their unbeaten record in the 2.Bundesliga after six matches with Holstein Kiel the next visitors to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Tuesday.
Last season’s fourth-placed side in the 2.Bundesliga presented a tough challenge following the 2-2 draw at home to Duisburg the week previously. Jeff Sabeine’s side lived up to their high-tempo, physical reputation with a very strong start, forcing a number of dangerous situations inside the Union penalty box. However, despite the loudest efforts from the crowd, Dr. Martin Thomsen refused to cave in and award an early spot kick. Union’s first chance came about in the 14th minute after a good cross from Ken Reichel, but Felix Kroos could not supply the finish. While Union assumed control of the game after the 20th-minute mark, the travelling side from Berlin found it difficult to create the crucial opening. Marvin Friedrich’s header from a Christopher Trimmel corner kick was the closest attempt on 37 minutes. Fischer’s men had to wait until a minute before half time when Gogia’s cross was poorly cleared and in the direction of Prömel who thundered home from close range — his second league goal of the 18/19 season.
The pattern of the second half practically mirrored the first: lots of second balls in the middle of the park with both teams looking to maximise situations from aerial challenges. The home side fought back, however, shortly after the hour with Voglsammer heading in to the net from inside the six-yard box. Fischer introduced Robert Zulj and Simon Hedlund with the aim to bring some spark and precision to the Union attack with 20 minutes to go. Prömel looked to add to his earlier goal with a long-range strike on 80 minutes but he blazed it over Stefan Ortega's crossbar. A rather scrappy end to proceedings at the Bielefelder Alm maintains Union's positive start to the campaign after six matches.
Union Berlin chase three points at Bielefeld
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin are on the road for the third time in the 2.Bundesliga campaign with an away match at Arminia Bielefeld on the cards for Saturday September 22 (13:00) at the Bielefelder Alm.
Bielefeld - Slow start, but last season's fourth-placed side:
Under head coach Jeff Sabeine and his aggressive brand of football, Arminia Bielefeld ended the season last term in fourth. Sabeine's side have carried parts of that form into the current campaign with eight points from five games going down as a solid, ordinary start. Bielefeld's last outing was on Monday against 1. FC Magdeburg, with the newly-promoted club from the east holding out for a point.
1. FC Union Berlin's Swiss head coach Urs Fischer expects a closely-contested encounter at the Alm. "If you look at the first five games and then the table, everything is so close together. It's almost the same pattern as last season. It's often the little things that can decide points and I expect that to be the case this weekend as a whole," predicted the 52-year-old. At the same, Fischer expects that while it's a "difficult task, it's one the players to be brave enough to solve."
Current form - Still chasing first away win:
Union's away matches so far this season have been composed and controlled affairs. The Köpenick club won at Carl Zeiss Jena in the DFB Pokal before going on to earn good points at 1. FC Köln and SV Sandhausen. In the 17 previous matches against the side from Ostwestfalen, Union have the upper-hand with seven wins and seven draws, and just three wins in Bielefeld's favour. However, Union haven't won at the Bielefelder Alm - now known as the SchücoArena - since 2010/11.
Ticket and match information:
Around 1,500 tickets have been sold for the Union end in Bielefeld. Matchday box offices will be open for supporters who travel without a ticket. Local police have encouraged supporters who are driving to follow the advice on site. The mobile club shop will be at the stadium, as well.
