Awoniyi on target as Union beat Gladbach

Union Berlin 2-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Gießelmann (22'), 2-0 Awoniyi (41'), 2-1 Hofmann (90'+1)

Gladbach made a strong start to the game but, despite dominating the possession statistics – hitting 70% at one stage – they were struggling to create openings and they fell behind to an efficient Union. Genki Haraguchi looked up and sent in a pinpoint cross for Gießelmann to head in his second goal in consecutive matches to break the deadlock midway through the first half. The trend of Gladbach seeing more of the ball, but Union creating the better chances continued and an excellent combination between Max Kruse and Awoniyi saw the latter double their lead just prior to half-time, adding a sublime finish to an outstanding assist. It was the least Awoniyi deserved having earlier done everything right but score when he powered through the Gladbach defence only to pass the ball into Yann Sommer's arms.

Alassane Plea was sent through on goal as Gladbach sought a swift reply in the second half, but he took too long to prepare a shot and Paul Jaeckel recovered well to make a tackle. Plea curled a shot wide of the far post with Gladbach's next effort on the hour mark. With all routes into the Union penalty area barred, Gladbach were forced to try their luck from distance and a Denis Zakaria effort grazed the top of the crossbar before Florian Neuhaus sent the next effort flying into the stand behind the Union goal. Joe Scally was the next to miss the target as Gladbach finally found a route into the area without threatening Andreas Luthe in the Union goal. They finally got a goal in stoppage time when Laszlo Benes' shot was parried out for Jonas Hofmann, but it was just a consolation for the Foals.

• Kruse scored 23 goals in 66 Bundesliga appearances for Gladbach across 2013/14 and 2014/15. He's hit 11 in 24 since joining Union in summer 2020.
• Kruse has supplied all three of Awoniyi's goals in the Bundesliga this season.
• Awoniyi's goal was his fifth of the season in all competitions, equalling his tally for the whole of last season.
• Gladbach have conceded the most first-half goals in the Bundesliga this season – 5.
• Union are unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga matches, three shy of their club record eight-game hot streak.
• It's 18 years since a new Gladbach coach went more than three Bundesliga matches to start a tenure without a win. Holger Fach broke his duck at the seventh attempt, back in 2003/04.
• The Foals have won just two of their last 11 Bundesliga away matches.

Union: Luthe - Baumgartl, Knoche, Jaeckel - Trimmel (c), Haraguchi (Ryerson 61'), Khedira (Griesbeck 82'), Gießelmann - Öztunali (Teuchert 82') - Kruse (Voglsammer 82'), Awoniyi (Behrens 73')
Unused subs: Rönnow, van Drongelen, Wszolek, Becker
Out: Dajaku (match fitness), Friedrich (suspended)
Coach: Urs Fischer

Gladbach: Sommer - Scally, Beyer, Elvedi, Bensebaini - Kramer (Zakaria 46'), Neuhaus (Benes 84') - Hofmann, Stindl (c), Wolf (Herrmann 46') - Plea (Bennetts 71')
Unused subs: Sippel, Netz, Jantschke, Noß, Schroers
Out: Doucoure (Achilles' tendon), Embolo (thigh), Ginter (not included), Kone (knee), Lainer (ankle), Thuram (knee)
Coach: Adi Hütter