Union Berlin end winless run with narrow victory over Bayer Leverkusen
Union Berlin ended their seven-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at home, thanks to Rani Khedira's first-half goal.
Union Berlin 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Khedira 28‘ (assist: Kemlein)
Union came into this match desperate to end their poor run of form, having gone winless in their last seven Bundesliga matches. Steffen Baumgart's side had slipped into the bottom half of the table, with the gap to the relegation places shrinking to just six points.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen arrived in confident mood after taking ten points from their previous four league matches, looking to strengthen their push for Champions League qualification. Historically, the visitors had dominated this fixture, having lost just once in 16 previous meetings.
The hosts started brightly with Andrej Ilić nearly connecting with a dangerous cross from Derrick Köhn in just the second minute. The match quickly turned physical, with Stanley Nsoki receiving a yellow card for a poor challenge on Malik Tillman after just three minutes.
Union then suffered an early blow when Janik Haberer was forced off in the 11th minute, having injured himself during a challenge on Tillman that earned him a booking. Christopher Trimmel came on to replace Haberer, as both sides struggled to create clear chances early on.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Rani Khedira capitalised on a mistake from Robert Andrich. Aljoscha Kemlein played a clever chip over the top as Union broke forward, and while Andrich initially looked to shield the ball back to his goalkeeper, Khedira nipped in and delicately lobbed the ball over the onrushing Janis Blaswich to give the hosts a precious lead.
Leverkusen responded by dominating possession but struggled to penetrate Union's resolute defence. The hosts might have doubled their advantage when András Schäfer fired in a low shot in the 32nd minute, but Blaswich made a strong save with his leg.
Leverkusen emerged for the second half with renewed determination but continued to be frustrated by Union's disciplined defensive shape. The visitors controlled the ball for long periods but found it difficult to create clear opportunities.
Their best chance came in the 52nd minute when Ibrahim Maza's dangerous cross was deflected goalward by Leopold Querfeld, forcing Frederik Rønnow into a sharp reflex save to prevent an own goal.
Despite making changes, Leverkusen continued to be frustrated by Union's determined defending. Aleix García tried his luck from distance in the 65th minute, but his effort sailed just over the bar.
Baumgart's men remained a threat on the counter and nearly extended their lead in the 67th minute when Ilić connected with a cross from Wooyeong Jeong, only for Blaswich to make another important save. As time ticked away, Leverkusen threw everything forward, with Patrik Schick going close with headers in the closing stages, but they couldn't find a way past Rønnow and Union's defensive wall.
Man of the Match: Rani Khedira
Khedira delivered a captain's performance that went far beyond his match-winning goal. The midfielder displayed exceptional anticipation to capitalise on Andrich's error for his decisive strike, showing great composure to chip the ball over Blaswich.
Throughout the match, he was at the heart of Union's resolute defensive effort, making crucial interceptions and helping the hosts maintain their shape against Leverkusen's sustained pressure. His leadership was instrumental as Union secured their first win of 2026, ending a seven-match winless streak. The statistics back up his influential display, as he won 18 challenges and covered significant ground to help protect his team's slender advantage.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Union Berlin 1.19 - Bayer Leverkusen 1.48
Fastest player: Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), 34.51 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), 31.7 percent
Most pressed player: Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), 23 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), 1.89
Fantasy Heroes: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, 300 Points), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen, 267 Points), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen, 236 Points)
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