Union Berlin remains goalless and pointless in the Bundesliga under coach Steffen Baumgart. The 53-year-old’s home debut against FC Augsburg was lost 0-2 (0-2) after a shockingly weak performance.
Alexis Claude-Maurice made things clear early on matchday 17 with his brace (9th, 30th). Coach Jess Thorup’s team overtook the Unioners in the table and is in twelfth place with 19 points. For Augsburg, after three Bundesliga defeats in a row, it was the liberation they had hoped for against their neighbors in the table.
Thorup: “We were clearly the better team”
“We were clearly the better team on the pitch over 90 minutes,” FCA coach Jess Thorup told Sportschau after the game. “Of course that gives you confidence, we’re all happy about the three points.”
Union’s new coach Steffen Baumgart criticized “That we didn’t do the crucial things well enough. The two goals in particular were too easy, we can do better. The feelings are therefore not good.”
Lars Becker, Sportschau Bundesliga Highlights, January 15, 2025 10:34 p.m
Double pack from Claude-Maurice
FC Augsburg put the hosts under early pressure in a fast-paced opening phase. After an Augsburg attack on the right side, Union cannot consistently clear the ball out of the penalty area and Alexis Claude-Maurice volleys the rebound to take the lead (9th). A bitter blow in the neck for Baumgart’s troops.
Dennis Wiese, Sportschau, January 15, 2025 11:15 p.m
But Union promptly looked for an answer. A long-range shot from Lucas Tousart almost equalized (10′), a little later Benedict Hollerbach missed a sensible counterattack (17′).
Augsburg survived Berlin’s rebellion and acted ice-cold themselves. Once again the FCA combined on the right side. Without any pressure from the opposition, Gouweleeuw was able to pass back to Claude-Maurice, who easily beat Union keeper Schwolow (30th). In the period that followed, Union was lucky that they only went into the break 0-2 behind.
Union wants to, but can’t
Union Berlin’s determination was evident after the restart. Baumgart made two substitutions and the first accents belonged to the home team. Nevertheless, most of Berlin’s offensive actions lacked final consistency or posed no threat to Augsburg’s goalkeeper Finn Dahmen.
Dennis Wiese, Sportschau, January 15, 2025 11:06 p.m
The guests managed to create a compactness using very simple means, which presented the Berliners with insoluble problems. A solid performance from Augsburg.
It cannot be proven to what extent the game at Union Berlin, which was subsequently rated for VfL Bochum, left its mark on the players. But it became clear on Wednesday evening that Steffen Baumgart and his Köpenickers have a lot of work to do if they want to achieve the turnaround. The Berliners have been waiting for a threesome for ten Bundesliga games and the Baumgart effect is still a long time coming.
Union against Mainz, Augsburg in Bremen
Union welcomes 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday afternoon (January 19th, 3:30 p.m.). Later in the day, Augsburg hosts Werder Bremen on the Weser (5:30 p.m.).