Two goals in the first half succumbed 1. FC Union Berlin to a defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.
Kevin Volland and Lucas Alario combined with goals inside the space of five minutes to put Peter Bosz’s team into a comfortable lead, which was kept in tack to take the points.
Substitute Sebastian Polter was dismissed after VAR consultation for a late tackle on Leverkusen’s Julian Baumgartlinger after 65 minutes.
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky; L. Bender (Weiser 67), S. Bender, Dragovic, Wendell; Baumgartlinger (Demirbay 70); Amiri (Paulinho 84), Aranguiz, Volland, Havertz; Alario
Neven Subotic’s suspension handed Keven Schlotterbeck a return to the team following a ban of his own after the red card in Augsburg. Marcus Ingvartsen took the place from Anthony Ujah in attack after returning to full training. Ten minutes passed without little action and a game dominated with safe passes, but Peter Bosz’s side first found the net on 16 minutes. But referee Felix Brych ruled there to be an offside as Alario scored from close range. However, Leverkusen’s next effort was given the all clear: Volland controlling the ball on the left-hand side and firing into the opposite corner. Five minutes later, Wendell picked up a second ball and squared to Alario, the Argentine curling into the bottom corner. Union fought back into the game, created more room in attacking areas and had one or two positive counterattacks. Sebastian Andersson’s first sight of goal arrived late in the half as he controlled a pass inside from Marius Bülter but the striker was caught in two minds under pressure and Leverkusen successfully cleared the danger.
Fischer introduced Akaki Gogia from the bench for Sheraldo Becker and it was quickly followed by a second change as Christopher Lenz hobbled off with an injury — Ken Reichel took his place on the left side of the back four. A set-piece situation could always prove useful for Union with Marvin Friedrich and Schlotterbeck competing, but in one case, the on-loan Freiburg defender couldn’t power on the header to direct it goalwards. Polter’s game time lasted four minutes in place of Ingvartsen with the striker receiving a straight red card from referee Robert Hartmann following consultation with VAR. Kai Havertz hit the crossbar from distance as Leverkusen pressed for a third against the ten men from Union. However, the score remained the same and the promoted side from Berlin head back to Köpenick without points.
The next Bundesliga match for 1. FC Union Berlin is on Friday September 27 at 20:30 with UEFA Europa League participants Eintracht Frankfurt coming to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Union Berlin face trip to Bayer Leverkusen
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin visit Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday at 15:30 as Urs Fischer’s team look to get back to winning ways in the fifth Bundesliga encounter of the season.
Review: Frustration in Köpenick, Leverkusen off the boil in Europe
The international break allowed Union to soak up the aftermath of the outstanding win over Borussia Dortmund three weeks ago, ahead of Werder Bremen’s visit to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei last Saturday. Emotions ran high as Florian Kohlfeldt’s side left with all three points through Niklas Füllkrug’s second-half winner. Controversy marred the opening phases as Davy Klaassen netted from a questionable penalty award — after a three-minute VAR wait. However, the lead was cut short after 14 minutes when Sebastian Andersson slotted home his third in consecutive matches in the top flight. Rafal Gikiewicz temporarily kept the score at 1-1 with a penalty save from Klaassen, but former Hannover striker Füllkrug bulleted in a header from the near post in front of the travelling support. At the end, Neven Subotic and Nuri Sahin were given their marching orders after two bookable offences each. A frustrating afternoon overall, but Union continued to show great character and offensive strength with a number of late chances to get something from a tempestuous contest.
Frustration was the name of the game for Peter Bosz’s men in midweek as Leverkusen fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League. Benedikt Höwedes scored an own goal to give Leverkusen a route back, but the Russians held out and landed a tough blow with Leverkusen facing three difficult tests to come against Juventus & Atletico Madrid home and away. In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen’s performances have been mixed. After wins against Paderborn and Fortuna Düsseldorf, Bosz’s side drew at home to Hoffenheim before losing heavily by four goals at title-chasers Borussia Dortmund.
Record: Cup losses to Leverkusen
Union’s first league meeting with Bayer Leverkusen takes place this weekend, but the teams are rather familiar foes in the DFB Pokal. In 2017/18, Union rocked the BayArena with a superb performance — on & off the field — although succumbed to an extra-time defeat after Dennis Daube’s equaliser in the regular 90. Leverkusen won 5-0 in the same competition back in 2003.
Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in five Bundesliga home matches — their last defeat in April to RB Leipzig. Meanwhile, Union have managed a solitary away win from the last eight attempts, the convincing triumph in the first round of the DFB Pokal in Halberstadt. The Köpenick club’s debut away match in the Bundesliga ended 1-1 at Augsburg, the first point of the league campaign.
Personnel: Subotic & Prömel missing
Fischer confirmed Grischa Prömel's continued absence, with the midfielder expected to return to training on Monday. Neven Subotic is suspended, but Keven Schlotterbeck is available after his two-game ban. Lennard Maloney, Julius Kade and Maurice Opfermann Arcones featured in the Baltic Sea Cup and all three will be unavailable as they undergo regeneration over the weekend.
"I consider Bayer Leverkusen to be one of the top four teams, although the last two games weren't so positive," said Urs Fischer on Thursday. "But they play with a lot of possession, quick transitions and high levels of individual quality. For me, Leverkusen is one of the top four Bundesliga teams."
Service: Tickets on sale
Tickets are still available for the Union end at the BayArena on matchday.
Here is the up-to-date travel information for supporters going on the special trains.
