1. FC Union Berlin's eight-game unbeaten run came to an end as the Köpenick club went down 3-1 to Hertha at the Olympic Stadium.
Taiwo Awoniyi scored his first derby goal after 20 minutes, but Union were quickly up against it after Robert Andrich's 23rd-minute red card. In the second half, Peter Pekarik levelled the scores and substitute Krysztof Piatek scored a double for the home side to leave Union without any points on the road for the first time this season.
1. FC Union Berlin: Luthe; Trimmel (Bülter 78), Friedrich, Knoche, Lenz (Gießelmann 78), Ryerson (Teuchert 82); Andrich (Sent off 23), Prömel (Becker 82); Kruse, Ingvartsen, Awoniyi (Griesbeck 54)
The first derby of the new season was held behind closed doors at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, which made for a different kind of atmosphere. Urs Fischer made one change from last week's 3-3 draw at home to Frankfurt with Julian Ryerson replacing Sheraldo Becker. The Norwegian defender covered most of the ground on the left-hand side to support the central defenders and allow Christopher Lenz to get forward. Lenz was showing that attacking threat in the opening 10 minutes, but naturally both teams were cautious and shot-shy. Despite Bruno Labbadia's side seeing most of the ball, the club from Köpenick took full advantage of their first clear chance of the game after 20 minutes. Marcus Ingvartsen weaved out of a difficult spot around the edge of the penalty box, tapped a lovely through ball into the path of Awoniyi and the on-loan Liverpool man celebrated his second goal for 1. FC Union Berlin. The euphoria quickly turned to frustration as Dr. Felix Brych showed a straight red card to Robert Andrich for a dangerous challenge on Lucas Tousart. Union played on with a more defensive-first approach, keeping the door locked for the majority of the first 45 minutes. A set-piece, misjudged by Grischa Prömel in the six-yard-box, almost threatened to bring Hertha on level terms, but Fischer's men saw the half out with impressive discipline.
Labbadia dipped into his substitute's bench at the break, introducing Piatek and Jairo Dilrosun. Six minutes into the second half, Hertha drew level. Matheus Cunha forced a save from Andreas Luthe and Pekarik fired in from the right-side of the penalty box. Awoniyi ran his race with an industrious performance and was replaced by Sebastian Griesbeck, two minutes later. With a player less, Union's ventures into the final-third were limited, but still potentially effective. Prömel powered his way into the box after 55 minutes, setting up Marvin Friedrich whose shot was cleared off the line. Unfortunately for the Köpenick club, the home team turned things around completely and found the breakthrough after 74 minutes. Union conceded possession and Hertha punished the away defence with a goal from Piatek. The Polish striker volleyed home his second of the game after 78 minutes. Fischer used up his substitutions in a final attempt to carve out a point for the away team, but the derby points stay in Charlottenburg.
Union head to the Olympic Stadium
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin's first encounter with city rivals Hertha BSC will take place on Friday at 20:30 at the Olympic Stadium in Charlottenburg.
Review
Max Kruse added another two goals to his account last Saturday as 1. FC Union Berlin fought until the end to claim a point against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Köpenick club started in relentless fashion, pounding Kevin Trapp's goal in the opening phase of the game. Robert Andrich took advantage of a goalkeeping mistake in the second minute before Taiwo Awoniyi was brought down in the penalty box, two minutes later. Kruse stepped up to convert from the penalty spot after missing the opportunity to equal the all-time Bundesliga record for successive kicks last weekend in Köln. But Adi Hütter's Frankfurt settled themselves after a wretched start in Berlin and eventually found another level of form. Andre Silva sweeped in his first after 26 minutes before heading in Filip Kostic's set-piece before the interval. It was then Union, who had to compose themselves under pressure and the second half was a dogged, intensive affair. Bas Dost fired Frankfurt ahead as the game headed for a gripping conclusion when Kruse smashed home from 25 yards to sixth goal in nine matches since joining Union in the summer.
Hertha's performance in Leverkusen earned praise from Urs Fischer ahead of Friday's third Bundesliga derby between the teams. After losing heavily to Borussia Dortmund the week earlier, Hertha closed out Bayer Leverkusen and left Nordrhein-Westfalen with a 0-0 draw.
Opponents
Bruno Labbadia's Hertha have eight points from nine Bundesliga matches so far this season. At the Olympic Stadium, which normally hosts upwards of 75,000, the club from Charlottenburg have only managed to pick up one point – a 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg. Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart both left Berlin with three points from their visits to play Hertha, while Dortmund won 5-2 a week ago. Victories in Augsburg and Bremen have kept Labbadia's side above the relegation dogfight at the bottom-end of the Bundesliga. However, the expectations for Hertha are high with some marquee signings in the last 6-12 months. Around 33 million euros were spent on the likes of Jhon Cordoba, Alexander Schwolow, Omar Alderete, Deyovaiso Zeefuik and Matteo Guendouzi. In the January transfer window, Labbadia's squad was strengthened with the likes of Krzysztof Piatek from Milan, Dodi Lukebakio, Lucas Tousart from Lyon and Matheus Cunha from Leipzig – another 100 million euros spent on taking the club up the league.
Personnel
1. FC Union Berlin have four absentees for the trip across the capital – Christian Gentner, Joel Pohjanpalo, Nico Schlotterbeck and Anthony Ujah. Fischer gave positive news about Gentner and Schlotterbeck who are "going in the right direction" in their respective recoveries. Keita Endo has trained most of last week and this week, but the management team continue to monitor his progress ahead of a first-team return.
Service
Friday's match is behind closed doors in accordance with the current lockdown restrictions.
