Bundesliga
Union Berlin lost further ground in the Bundesliga title race after being held to a goalless draw by Cologne.
Union won the reverse fixture in Cologne on Matchday 6 to go top of the table for the first time ever thanks to a third-minute Timo Hübers own goal. It took the Berliners four to fire off their first shot this time as they tried to close the gap on the leaders again, but Kevin Behrens’ effort was easily saved by Marvin Schwäbe. Janik Haberer had a header blocked before the visitors started to click into gear too. Steffen Tigges forced a good low stop out of Frederik Ronnow, while Dejan Ljubicic fired an effort just inches wide of the far post in the best of the first-half chances.
The action resumed with a far more energetic display. Josip Juranovic – deployed on the left today – fired over a volley before Eric Martel, Florian Kainz and Jonas Hector all forced good stops out of Ronnow to keep the score level. Sheraldo Becker then failed to test Schwäbe at the other end, firing over when through on the left. Cologne remained the most likely, with Kainz flashing an effort just wide from the left, but failed to break the deadlock as this fixture ended goalless for the first time in 16 competitive meetings. A third game in a row without a win for Union means they now find themselves five points off the summit.
Union: Rönnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Laidouni (Thorsby 81’), Khedira, Haberer (Seguin 69’), Juranovic - Becker (Michel 90'), Behrens (Jordan 69’)
Unused subs: Grill, Jaeckel, Öztunali, Baumgartl, Leweling
Out: Gießelmann (knock), Roussillon (knock), Schäfer (foot)
Coach: Urs Fischer
Cologne: Schwäbe - Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector (c) - Skhiri, Martel - Maina (Adamyan 86’), Ljubicic (Lemperle 90'+2), Kainz (Olesen 84’) - Tigges
Unused subs: Horn, Soldo, Huseinbasic, Schindler, Limnios, Selke
Out: Andersson (knee), Dietz (cruciate ligament), Kilian (muscular), Pedersen (muscular), Uth (pelvis), Thielmann (thigh)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart