Borussia Dortmund held by Union Berlin
Borussia Dortmund dropped points for the second league game in a row after playing out a goalless draw at Union Berlin.
Union Berlin 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
The game began with controversy as Dortmund's Ethan Nwaneri caught Tom Rothe with a sliding challenge inside the opening minute, with referee Daniel Schlager initially producing a red card by mistake before correcting it to yellow.
Waldemar Anton and Serhou Guirassy also picked up early bookings, taking the tally to three cautions inside the first quarter of an hour. Union's Janik Haberer and Rothe then joined the list before half-time, as the match turned increasingly robust.
The best chances of the half came late: Nwaneri spurned a good opening when he failed to connect cleanly after a square pass, before Kastriot Imeri drove a free-kick from almost the touchline that Gregor Kobel did brilliantly to keep out with a low save.
Watch: Red or yellow?
Chances come and go after the break
After the restart, birthday boy Maximilian Beier narrowly failed to turn in a Julian Ryerson cross from close range, and Skarke raced clear for Union only to fire over from inside the area.
Guirassy headed over from a Ryerson free-kick, substitute Mathis Albert went close late on after a Guirassy touch found him unexpectedly and Union's Felix Uduokhai headed off target from a corner as Dortmund extended their unbeaten league start to six matches. Berlin stay in the bottom three.
Man of the Match: Waldemar Anton
Anton was a constant presence at both ends for Dortmund, picking up an early yellow card for a foul on Michel Aebischer before going close himself with a headed effort in the second half.
He registered the most challenges won of any player on the pitch and was Dortmund's top performer in the Fantasy Manager rankings, underlining a composed and combative display in a game short on genuine quality.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Union Berlin 0.70 - Borussia Dortmund 0.88
Fastest player: Kouakou Henry-Joane Aaron Aimerick Gadou (BVB), 35.02 km/h
Pass efficiency: Zeno van den Bosch (FCU), +3.26
Fantasy Heroes: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund, 125 Points), Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund, 101 Points), Kouakou Henry-Joane Aaron Aimerick Gadou (Borussia Dortmund, 97 Points)
