Highlights

Advertisement
camera-photo

Full-time: Union 1-2 Leverkusen

The champions extend their unbeaten run away from home to 23 games with a clinical display in Berlin. Frimpong put them ahead inside just two minutes before Jeong brought Union level, but a brilliant cross from substitute Wirtz teed up Schick to earn Leverkusen all three points and move up to third in the table for the time being.
Full-time
90'
+ 1

Added time

Four extra minutes for Union to avoid that defeat.
90'

A rare home loss

Union haven't lost a league game here since May against Bochum.
90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
86'

Volland to haunt Leverkusen?

The ex-Bayer man is on for the closing stages for his first appearance of the season after injury.
camera-photo

Magical Wirtz

The fourth time in the Bundesliga this season that Flo has delivered a cross leading to a goal.
83'

Ball Recovery Time

information
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
1st Half
2nd Half
16.9 s
11.2 s
82'

Grimaldo over

He scored a trademark free-kick during the week, but this one from right of the area flies into the arms of Rønnow.
80'

Changes galore

Like-for-like down the right by Leverkusen, while Union throw on fresh legs on the wing, in midfield and up front.
79'

Substitution

75'

Deja-Wirtz

The only other time Wirtz has come off the bench this Bundesliga season he set up the Leverkusen winner in a 2-1 victory over Frankfurt. Has he just done the same again here?
72'

Goal confirmed

It's checked by VAR with the ball close to Schick's arm, but it's quickly given and he marks his 100th Bundesliga game for Leverkusen with his 48th goal.
71'
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
SituationGoal
ReviewPrevious handball?
DecisionGoal
camera-photo

Schick!

Brilliant cross from Wirtz wide on the right and it's on a plate for Schick getting behind his marker at the far post to chest it over the line and restore Leverkusen's advantage.
71'
Patrik Schick
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
52 %
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
7.14 m
67'

Now Trimmel too

The Union skipper is the next to have his name taken after wrapping his arms around Wirtz and making his feelings known.
64'

Leopold cautioned

The young defender pulls back Wirtz trying to skip away over the halfway line.
60'

Pressure Handling

information
Pressure Handling
This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.
91%
%
Tom Rothe
11 times under pressure
Tom Rothe
59'

Double change

A straight swap on paper in midfield, but Wirtz will obviously bring more attacking impetus.
56'

Wirtz incoming

The Leverkusen talisman has been called back from his warm-up.
55'

Union come forward

The hosts throw men forward on the break. Hollerbach wins a corner but it comes to nothing as Skarke nods wide.
49'

Schick blocked

A volley from the big Czech striker from left of centre, but it hits too many Union legs on the way through to trouble Rønnow.
46'

Back under way

There was plenty of action out on the pitch during the break, but we resume unchanged at the Alte Försterei.
46'

Pressure Handling

information
Pressure Handling
This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.
71%
%
Granit Xhaka
14 times under pressure
Granit Xhaka
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2

As it stands

A draw is set to take Leverkusen up to third, still two points shy of Frankfurt, who play tomorrow, and eight behind Bayern ahead of Der Klassiker. Union would remain 10th.
camera-photo

Half-time: Union 1-1 Leverkusen

The champions made a blistering start with Frimpong’s goal inside two minutes, but it’s been tight since then. It took a little magic from Hollerbach to tee up Jeong for the equaliser and end Union’s five-plus-hour scoring drought.
Half-time
45'
+ 1

Added time

Just one additional minute as Grimaldo goes for the spectacular but blazes over on his weaker right foot.
44'

Goals but not many chances

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
We've seen just five efforts this afternoon but still had two goals. Based on the quality of chances, 1-1 looks fair.
xGoals
1
0.87
0.78
1
Goals
37'

Leaky on the road

The champions have failed to keep a clean sheet in their six away games this campaign but have scored in each of their last 23 on the road, which is a club record.
34'

Into side netting

Schick on his favoured left foot to the left of goal, but he can only fire it into the side netting.
33'

The drought ends

The last Union player to score in the league had been Hollerbach against Frankfurt back on Matchday 8 at the end of October. It's Jeong's first since Matchday 4 and takes him to two for the season, level with Rothe and Hollerbach as the Berliners' top scorer.
30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
camera-photo

Jeong levels!

That run of 322 minutes without a goal is finally over. It's an excellent run from Hollerbach up the inside left and through the Leverkusen defence. He then squares, where Jeong gets in front of his marker and guides it in off the inside of the right post to level things up.
29'
Wooyeong Jeong
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
85 %
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
5.94 m
28'

Rothe in the book

The ex-Dortmund defender catches Arthur on the ankle and gets a card.
27'

Finally a shot

Jeong from 25 yards out finally tests Hrádecký, but the Finnish keeper snaffles it on the bounce.
25'

Drought

We've just passed five hours since Union last scored a goal in the Bundesliga. They've yet to produce a shot today either.
21'

Andrich booked

The ex-Union man pulls back Hollerbach in midfield and has his name taken.
20'

Cut out

We've not seen much action in the penalty areas yet. Grimaldo tries to curl one in looking for Schick, but Vogt reads it and heads clear.
17'

Leverkusen in control

Union's approach is to try and break quickly. No luck so far in that regard.
Possession (%)
3961
13'

Back four confirmed

So, it is indeed a four-man back line from the champions of Arthur, Tapsoba, Tah and Hincapié. It means Grimaldo and Frimpong are both more advanced, as we quickly saw with the goal.
12'

Impact of an early goal

information
Impact of an early goal
0'
43.2 %
2'
65.7 %
11'

An unwanted moment

The opening goal was actually the 100th that Union have conceded at home in the Bundesliga.
2:06
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: The story of 'Grimpong'

6'

Quick out the blocks

Little surprise to hear Frimpong's goal was Leverkusen's earliest of this season and also the quickest Union have been breached this term.
5'

Pinball

A García free-kick from wide right into the box just won't sit for a black shirt, who have a few swings at it before the ball pops up for Rønnow.
camera-photo

Perfect start for Leverkusen!

So simple for the champions. Tah with a long ball over the top, Grimaldo away up the left, Frimpong racing along with him and being presented with a simple tap-in.
Goal probability
information
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
48 %
Shot speed
information
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
99.34 km/h
Distance to Goal
information
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
15.97 m
1'

A run to end?

Union are winless in five competitive fixtures, Leverkusen unbeaten in nine in the Bundesliga and haven't lost on the road domestically since May 2013 (22 games). What will we get today?
Kick-off!

Almost set

The two teams are out in Köpenick and very nearly ready to go.
0:11
camera-professional-play-symbol

Bayer warming up in setting Berlin sun

Schick century

The Czech striker makes his 100th Bundesliga appearance in Leverkusen colours. He's got 47 goals so far, including last week's hat-trick against Heidenheim.
0:12
camera-professional-play-symbol

Hosts out to warm up

0:11
camera-professional-play-symbol

Leverkusen check out the Alte Försterei

A Bayer back four?

Alonso has only started with a four-man defence twice before this season, but will he do so again today? Arthur's inclusion for his first league start of the campaign together with Jeremie Frimpong and Álex Grimaldo might mean it is. Or will it see a more advance Frimpong? We will see shortly...
camera-photo

Wirtz on the bench

Injuries for the champions mean they have only named eight of a possible nine substitutes, including two goalkeepers, but Alonso still has the luxury of being able to name Wirtz on the bench. It's just the second time the 21-year-old hasn't started a league game this term, although on that previous occasion he did come on to set up the winner against Frankfurt.

Three Leverkusen changes

Alonso makes three alternations from the side that comfortably beat Red Bull Salzburg in midweek, with Hrádecký restored in goal for Matej Kovář, while Arthur and Aleix Garcia start for Florian Wirtz and Exequiel Palacios.

Hosts rotate

It's five changes for Union from last week's loss at Wolfsburg - the most ever under Bo Svensson. Leopold Querfeld, Benedict Hollerbach, Wooyeong Jeong, Tom Rothe and Tim Skarke all come in, with Janik Haberer, Robert Skov, Yorbe Vertessen and Jordan all dropping to the bench. Diogo Leite is injured.

Union starting XI

Rønnow - Doekhi, Vogt, Querfeld - Trimmel (c), Kemlein, Khedira, Rothe - Jeong, Hollerbach, Skarke

Union subs

Schwolow, Juranovic, Schäfer, Haberer, Bénes, Skov, Vertessen, Volland, Jordan

Leverkusen starting XI

Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Arthur, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Frimpong, García - Schick

Leverkusen subs

Kovář, Lomb, Mukiele, Wirtz, Palacios, Tella, Stepanov, Onyeka
camera-photo

Probable line ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!
camera-photo

Xabi Alonso on Union

"It will be a very physical game with lots of duels. We have to be ready for that. But we want to put our ideas into effect on the pitch and play our own game – and in the best case scenario keep a clean sheet as we did against Salzburg."
camera-photo

Bo Svensson on Bayer Leverkusen

"It is a big challenge to host the champions. We know they have a lot of quality. We need an absolutely top performance. These are the kind of challenges you look forward to when you play in the Bundesliga though."
2:03
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Union Berlin 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen - previous meeting

Florian Wirtz scored the winner in April. The victory put Leverkusen within one more win of their historic first Bundesliga title.
camera-photo

Leverkusen in lively scoring form

The champions followed up a 5-2 home win over Heidenheim with their highest-ever UEFA Champions League win on Tuesday evening - 5-0 at home to Salzburg. They will now seek to take that superb scoring form on the road to Berlin.

An iron defence

Only Bayern Munich (seven) have conceded fewer than Union Berlin's nine goals in the Bundesliga so far this season.

Home fortress holding

Union Berlin remain unbeaten at home this season - albeit they followed three wins in their first three ties in Berlin with two draws in their most recent home encounters.
2:03
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 5-2 Heidenheim - highlights

Xabi Alonso's men returned to winning ways against Heidenheim, thanks in part to a superb hat-trick from Patrik Schick. The defending champions' fifth league win of the campaign, the result keeps them in fourth - some nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
2:03
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Wolfsburg 1-0 Union Berlin - highlights

The Berliners were met with disappointment as they travelled to Wolfsburg, the side just below them in the table in 11th. It's now four Bundesliga games without a win for Bo Svensson's side.
camera-professional-play-symbol

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 12 fixture between 1. FC Union Berlin and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.