Bayer Leverkusen held back for a half, but then turned up the heat. Too much for the surprise team from Berlin, who went under at the Werkself. For the Werkself, the win against Union Berlin is a chest release.
After almost two months at the top, the high-flyers from Union Berlin crashed from the top of the table. At Bayer Leverkusen, the Irons lost 0:5 (0:0) after a disappointing performance and had to cede first place, which they had taken on September 11th, to record champions Bayern Munich.
Three days after the acclaimed first entry into the knockout round of the Europa League, the previous surprise team fell behind, of all things, due to ex-Unioner Robert Andrich (46th). After substitute goalkeeper Lennart Grill lost the ball, Moussa Diaby increased the lead to 2-0 (56 '), only two minutes later the Frenchman added the third goal. Adam Hlozek also scored with a heel (68') and Mitchel Bakker (76').
The Köpenicker continued their negative trend in away games: The Berliners only got three points from the last four games in foreign places, two weeks ago they already lost 1:2 at VfL Bochum at the bottom at the time. The Werkself, who were relegated from the Champions League on Tuesday, finally managed their second win in eight games under new coach Xabi Alonso. Bayer climbed from the relegation place to 14th place.
After the 1-0 win at Belgian runners-up Union St. Gilloise, Union coach Urs Fischer made four changes, including the Bayer loanee Grill for the injured Frederik Rönnow. Alonso also made four substitutions in the starting eleven after the 0-0 draw against Club Brugge. His team tried to control the game early on and also had more possession of the ball - but Union initially defended with the usual high concentration and intensive running.
However, the Irons held back offensively - so the game remained largely without penalty scenes in the first half. Keeper Grill and Lukas Hradecky only had to pick a few harmless crosses in front of 30,210 spectators in the sold-out arena.
After the umpteenth back pass, the unrest among the Bayer fans increased by the minute, the grumbling grew louder. A long-range shot by Nadim Amiri over the Union goal was the only offensive action worth mentioning in the very weak first half (39th). Both teams whistled during the break.
The hosts were celebrating less than a minute after the restart: Andrich, who refrained from enthusiastically celebrating his former club, scored after a corner by Kerem Demirbay. Then Grill frittered away the ball well in front of his own penalty area, Diaby used the big mistake to make it 2-0. Suddenly the knot burst at the Werkself, who had previously only won against current bottom Schalke 04 under Alonso.
