BERLIN: A goal from Joshua Kimmich was too little for Bayern Munich on Saturday, as the German champions were held to a draw for the second week in a row at Union Berlin and knocked off top spot in the Bundesliga.
Union battled to a well-earned point at home to Bayern, allowing fellow high-fliers Freiburg to leapfrog their way into first after they beat Bayer Leverkusen in a five-goal thriller.
After their impressive start to the season, Union had begun the day hot on Bayern’s heels with only goal difference separating the two teams.
They showed why early in the first half, taking the lead through Sheraldo Becker with a brilliantly worked free-kick to stun the champions and send the home crowd into ecstasy.
Their celebrations were cut short a few minutes later as Bayern immediately turned the screws and Kimmich levelled the scores with a fizzing, first-time finish from the edge of the area.
Bayern were repeatedly thwarted by Danish goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow as both sides had chances to win the game in a thrilling battle after the break.
Their second slip in as many weeks mean the champions are now in third, behind Borussia Dortmund and surprise leaders Freiburg, who beat Leverkusen 3-2.
Leverkusen took the lead on 16 minutes, Kerem Demirbay prodding the ball in after some penalty-box pinball.
Yet Freiburg hit back with two quick goals after half time, Matthias Ginter heading in the equaliser from a corner early before Michael Gregoritsch capitalised on a defensive error to turn the game on its head.
Chelsea loanee Callum Hudson-Odoi then set up Patrick Schick with a fine cross just minutes after coming off the bench for his debut, but Ritsu Doan restored Freiburg’s lead just a few minutes later.
Elsewhere, former Bayern coach Niko Kovac’s difficult start to life at Wolfsburg continued with a 4-2 defeat to Cologne.
Wolfsburg took the lead through Lukas Nmecha after just two minutes, but they were booed into the tunnel at half time after Cologne stormed from behind to take control of the game.
Dejan Ljubicic levelled the scores with a cool finish at the end of a delightful passing move, before a Paulo Otavio own goal and a Florian Kainz penalty gave the visitors a deserved 3-1 lead at the break.
Nmecha gave the hosts late hope with a goal in the second half, before Sargis Adamyan restored Cologne’s two-goal lead.
Two Niclas Fullkrug goals fired Werder Bremen to a 2-0 victory over bottom side Bochum, while Schalke are still looking for their first win of the season after a 1-1 draw at Stuttgart.
Chris Fuehrich gave Stuttgart the lead, but Simon Terodde salvaged a point for Schalke with his first goal of the season.
Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2022
