Union cement third with Gladbach victory

Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-1 Union Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Becker 60’ (assist: Roussillon)

Results elsewhere over Matchday 29 meant that Gladbach kicked off very much in mid-table, 11 points from the top six and the same number the other way from the bottom three. Union, meanwhile, had been dislodged from third by Freiburg’s win over Schalke earlier in the day. It was the top-four hopefuls who started brighter, with Rani Khedira – fresh from signing a new contract – firing over and Kevin Behrens hitting the side netting. In a half that only saw marginally more shots than yellow cards, the best chance came from Die Eisernen’s main man, Becker. His shot deflected off the outstretched leg of Ko Itakura and bounced up, with Jonas Omlin showing great reactions in the Borussia goal to claw it clear high to his right. The hosts failed to fire off a shot from inside the penalty area in the opening 45 minutes.

Europe-chasing Union remained the better side after the restart and had a number of half chances, including a header from close range that Behrens put wide. They finally had the lead their play deserved when Becker ran onto a Jerome Roussillon cross and volleyed perfectly past Omlin on the hour mark. Gladbach boss Daniel Farke responded with a quadruple substitution to try and spark his side back to life. There was promise as Marcus Thuram twice met a cross but failed to turn his header on target on either occasion. A third header from the French striker finally forced a save out of Frederik Ronnow. Yet no equaliser came from the hosts as Union held on for the victory that moves them back two points above Freiburg and four clear of RB Leipzig in fifth as they seek a historic maiden UEFA Champions League qualification.

• Becker has a team-leading nine Bundesliga goals in 2022/23 for Union, with this the third away from home.
• Roussillon got his second assist in Union colours. His first was also for Becker to put the Berliners 1-0 up against VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 26.
• Union have won four on the spin against Gladbach and five out of eight top-flight encounters (D2, L1).
• This was Union’s 16th win of the campaign – a new club record in the Bundesliga. Their 23 points on the road is also a new record in their top-flight history.
• Die Eisernen are unbeaten in their last 55 Bundesliga games when they’ve taken the lead (29 wins, 16 draws).
• Itakura received the first yellow card of his Bundesliga career in his 20th appearance. But he’d also previously been given a straight red.

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Gladbach: Omlin - Scally (Lainer 69’), Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini (Netz 69’) - Weigl, Kone - Hofmann, Neuhaus (Ngoumou 69’), Stindl (c) (Plea 69’) - Thuram (Friedrich 87’)
Unused subs: Olschowsky, Wolf, Herrmann
Out: Jantschke (meniscus), Sanches (ankle)
Coach: Daniel Farke

Union: Ronnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Juranovic, Laidouni (Thorsby 68’), Khedira (c), Haberer (Pantovic 78’), Roussillon (Trimmel  87’) - Becker (Michel 78’), Behrens (Jordan 68’)
Unused subs: Grill, Gießelmann, Baumgartl, Leweling
Out: Jaeckel (suspended), Schäfer (foot)
Coach: Urs Fischer