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Union bag point at Bayern

Late equaliser:

Sat, 10. April 2021
Union bag point at Bayern

Marcus Ingvartsen's equaliser late in the match secured 1. FC Union Berlin an unbeaten record against champions Bayern Munich this season.

The Dane scored on 85 minutes to level the scores at 1-1 following Jamal Musiala's opener for an injury-hit Bayern Munich. 

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Sarr, (Scott 65) Boateng (Pavard 65), Martinez, Stanisic; Kimmich, Müller, Dantas; Musiala (Nianzou 74), Choupo-Moting (Alaba 58), Coman (Sane 45)

Union Berlin: Luthe; Trimmel, Lenz (Ryerson 66), Friedrich, Knoche; Prömel, Andrich, Bülter (Ingvartsen 66), Endo; Kruse (Pohjanpalo 71), Musa (Teuchert 71)

Urs Fischer made three changes to his squad after the 1-1 draw at home to Hertha last weekend. Niko Schlotterbeck, Julian Ryerson and Christian Gentner dropped to the bench, with Christopher Lenz, Keita Endo and Marius Bülter coming in. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick's preparation has dominated the headlines in Germany, a few days after Bayern went down 2-3 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Josip Stanisic made his top-team debut, while there were starts for Tiago Dantas and 18-year-old Jamal Musiala. The talented attacker, who has committed his international future to Germany, was Bayern's most dangerous threat in the final third, but his end product was a little off target. Union's tight defensive organisation was a huge success in the first 45 minutes as the Berliners restricted Bayern to scraps around the penalty box. The only occasion Bayern did manage to break into the area without control was in the 17th mintue, but Andreas Luthe made two blocks in succession to deny Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. After Musiala shot wide on 22 minutes, Union Berlin created their first serious opportunity of the day. Keita Endo's pace on the break was useful throughout to give the defence some respite, but on 23 minutes, the Japanese winger delivered a delightful cross to the back-post where Marius Bülter straight down the throat of Manuel Neuer. If the Union attacker had headed with a bit more precision, the Köpenick club could have broken the deadlock at the Allianz Arena. Bayern returned to their dominant self, taking charge of ball possession and all the while looking a little out-of-sorts going forward given the absence of Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry. Luthe was again sharp to deny Choupo-Moting on 38 minutes, but overall the Union number one will have been pleasantly content with little to do in the first half. 

After suffering a knock to his knee in the first half, Kingsley Coman's afternoon came to an end and he was replaced by Leroy Sane. Hansi Flick's side are chasing a ninth successive Bundesliga title this season and last week's win in Leipzig created a seven-point lead going into this matchday. The quality in the side was on show in the early stages of the second period as Bayern took control. Jerome Boateng smashed a shot on target, while Leroy Sane came close with a shot from inside. While Max Kruse came close from a volley, the away side struggled to get into promising attacking situations. After 68 minutes, Musiala's quick feet created space in the middle of the penalty box and he poked past Luthe to put Bayern in front. Flick introduced the likes of David Alaba and Benjamin Pavard as he looked to call upon his experienced players to get over the line. On the other side, Urs Fischer introduced Ryerson, Ingvartsen, Pohjanpalo, Teuchert and Gentner before the game went into the last 10 minutes. Quick thinking and creativity came to the fore with six minutes to go as Ryerson's throw-in put Andrich in behind the Bayern defence. The midfielder was quicker than Manuel Neuer and picked out Ingvartsen who bundled over the line to level the scores. Incredibly, the Köpenick club looked the likelier to get the winner in the final few minutes but referee Tobias Stieler called time on an excellent performance from Fischer's side to avoid defeat against Bayern Munich in successive games.