Even after the failed Europa League debut in the Bundesliga, Union Berlin is still swimming on the wave of success and has taken the lead in the table for at least two hours. The Irons deservedly won the duel of the previously unbeaten surprise teams at 1. FC Köln 1-0 (1-0) and took over the top of the table at least temporarily before the late game of the previous leaders SC Freiburg against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The Köpenickers, who lost 1-0 at home to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise from Belgium on Thursday, took the lead through an own goal by Timo Hübers (3rd). An earlier preliminary decision for Union was possible, but first Jordan Siebatcheu failed with a questionable hand penalty to FC keeper Marvin Schwäbe (10th), then a goal by Sheraldo Becker was disallowed for offside (13th). Positive for the capital: Timo Baumgartl was in the squad for the first time since he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April, but he was not substituted on.
Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart conceded the first defeat of the season against his heart club of all people. He has been closely connected to Union since he was a professional from 2002 to 2004. The family lives near the stadium, he is a member of the club and plays in the traditional team, his wife worked in the Berlin fan shop.
But it was difficult for Baumgart to concentrate on this game. Beforehand, he had said that after the riots before the Conference League game in Nice on Thursday (1-1), "you couldn't go back to business as usual". In contrast to his players, who were still in the cabin, the coach had followed the incidents at close range because he was locked in the stands. The emotional state was "okay again," said Baumgart before the game at DAZN. It is still "pictures that you will not forget".
In terms of sport, the FC coach on the sidelines was back to 180 in the hectic and eventful initial phase. When Hübers deflected a shot from Becker into his own net, which was unstoppable for Schwäbe, he was stunned at first. When Luca Kilian got a header against the upper arm with his back to the shooter Robin Knoche and referee Benjamin Cortus whistled for a penalty, he was really upset. And when the Swabian, who had been outstanding in the past few weeks, held against Siebatcheu, who had returned to the team after a muscle injury, Baumgart celebrated, gesticulating wildly in the direction of fourth official Thomas Gorniak.
The Cologne acted still confused, the Berliners clearly set the tone. When Leverkusen loanee Lennart Grill, who was in goal for the injured Frederik Rönnow for the first time, had to intervene for the first time (29th against Linton Maina), it could have been 0:3 or 0:4. So the game remained open, and after half an hour FC caught up. Maina then had a great chance to equalize immediately after the break, but he failed because of the strongly reacting Grill (47th). On the other side, Union captain Christopher Trimmel hit the ball against the post (58'). In the 81st minute, Cologne's Kilian saw a yellow-red card.
Information about the game at bundesliga.de
