Bundesliga
Union Berlin recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Europe-chasing Werder Bremen at the Stadion an der Alte Försterei, with goals from Tim Rothe and László Bénes cancelling out Jens Stage's early brace.
Union Berlin 2-2 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Stage 2', 0-2 Stage 15' (assist: Lynen), 1-2 Rothe 37' (assist: Trimmel), 2-2 Bénes 84' (assist: Rothe)
This promised to be an intriguing affair, with Union looking to extend their seven-game unbeaten run and Bremen aiming to boost their European aspirations while without a defeat in five themselves.
The match exploded into life almost immediately, with Stage putting Bremen ahead after just two minutes. Burke's cross found Marvin Ducksch, whose effort struck the post, allowing Stage to react quickest and hammer home the rebound. The Danish midfielder wasn't done there, doubling Bremen's lead in the 15th minute with a fierce strike from outside the box. Senne Lynen was involved in the build-up, with Stage's shot taking a slight deflection off Danilho Doekhi. Union, shell-shocked by the rapid-fire start, struggled to gain a foothold in the game as Bremen looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
As the first half progressed, Union gradually found their rhythm. Their persistence paid off in the 37th minute when Tom Rothe met Christopher Trimmel's pinpoint cross with a well-placed header, reducing the deficit and igniting hope among the home supporters. The goal injected new life into Union's play, and they finished the half strongly, putting pressure on the Bremen defence.
Union carried their momentum into the second half, creating several chances as they pushed for an equaliser. Benedict Hollerbach was particularly lively, forcing a save from Michael Zetterer with a header in the 54th minute. Bremen, however, remained dangerous on the counter-attack, with Mitchell Weiser and Burke testing Frederik Rønnow. As the match entered its final stages, Union's pressure intensified, as Andrej Ilić squandered a golden opportunity in the 69th minute, firing wide when well-placed.
Just as it seemed Bremen might hold on for the win, Union found their equaliser in spectacular fashion. In the 84th minute, substitute Bénes curled a stunning shot into the top corner from a tight angle, leaving Zetterer with no chance. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures and was a fitting end to a thrilling encounter. Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but the match ended in a share of the spoils, a fair reflection of an evenly contested and entertaining game.
While Union's comeback was impressive, Stage's performance for Bremen was outstanding. His two goals in the opening 15 minutes set the tone for the match and demonstrated his ability to impact the game from midfield. Stage's first goal showed great anticipation to follow up on Ducksch's shot, while his second was a powerful strike from distance. Beyond his goals, Stage was a constant threat, finishing the match with four shots on target and contributing to Bremen's midfield control. His performance was crucial in securing a point for his team in a challenging away fixture.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Union 1.63 - Bremen 1.25
Fastest player: Oliver Burke (Bremen), 34.54 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-2 by László Bénes (Union), 3 percent
Most pressed player: Benedict Hollerbach (Union), 27 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Felix Agu (Bremen), +1.71
Fantasy Heroes: Jens Stage (Bremen, 417 Points), Tom Rothe (Union Berlin, 356 Points), Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen, 266 Points)