Bochum's coach Thomas Letsch should take a close look at Union Berlin's line-up. Every Iron player who is new to the game report sheet for the Bundesliga game on Sunday (3.30 p.m. / DAZN) poses a great danger for the Ruhrpott club. That's the law of the series at the Iron Team and further proof of the astonishing development of the Köpenickers this season. Even in the 2-0 win against 1. FC Heidenheim in the second round of the DFB Cup, in the style of a top team, it was the same: whoever comes in scores.
This time in the person of Timoteusz Puchacz (zero Bundesliga minutes so far) and Sven Michel (first starting eleven). The joker duo of the Bundesliga leaders continued the series started by Paul Jaeckel in the 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart and Janik Haberer with his brace in the 2-0 win against Dortmund. Both had been rested by coach Urs Fischer in the previous game. Prominent candidates for goals in Bochum: Rani Kherdira, Timo Baumgartl, Christopher Trimmel or Jordan Siebatcheu, whom Fischer is expecting to return to training on Friday after a short injury break.
Rotation, or in football-speak, load control, couldn't work any better. Union is not only disgusting to play on for its opponents, but also unpredictable thanks to the enormous breadth of the squad and has not conceded a goal for five victorious games in a row. The paradox against Heidenheim was ball possession (57 percent) and pass rate (84 percent), which Fischer castigated as too low against Dortmund (29/68 percent).
First goal scorer Puchacz stood after the game in slippers in the foyer in front of the dressing room wing in the stadium at the Alte Försterei and talked excitedly on his mobile phone. After a few minutes, a whole crowd of the Pole's friends came down the stairs, warm hugs followed. The full-back has been on the sidelines since joining Union last year. But the sympathies are sure. "I'm really happy for him. Timo works hard in training," said Michel.
The attacker, otherwise sporty in the shadow of Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker, was responsible for the emotions late on Wednesday evening. After his goal, he held up the shirt of Jakob Busk, the third goalkeeper, but didn't say why. Busk himself provided clarification on Thursday morning. His little son Carlo had to be operated on for the third time. It was a difficult time for the family, but now there is hope.
"That's what distinguishes 'us' at Union, we're a big family and we're there for each other when it's necessary. You can see that on the pitch, where we've had a lot of success now and in recent years. Thank you guys ", wrote the Dane. "For the love of Jakob Busk," the club commented on the emotional scene on Twitter.
