A frustrated Kevin Behrens during the game in Bremen (archive photo) Photo: City Press
From BZ/dpa
1. FC Union Berlin lost twelve games in a row. The serious problems facing Köpenick have become more serious.
Even after the twelfth defeat in a row, the Union Berlin fans unapologetically stuck by their team. The team and coach Urs Fischer were combative, but also seemed a bit perplexed in view of the same problems. Before the international break, difficult tasks await in the Champions League against SSC Napoli and the game against league leaders Leverkusen.
Three numbers that illustrate the crisis:
► 2: Before the 3-0 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Iron Men were encouraged to be even more fervent than usual. But in the second minute, Frankfurt took the lead with their first attempt on goal – like so often in the last few weeks. The guests’ second shot was also spot on. “The first goal is unnecessary, another goal from the backcourt,” said Fischer. “Then they play it well for the second goal, even though we actually knew what to expect. We didn’t defend that well as a collective.”
► 40: That’s how many crosses the Köpenick team hit on Saturday, according to Kicker’s data. Too few of them arrived. But Union’s attackers also continued their final crisis and missed some good chances. “It seems like the opponents are heading everything away and we are not getting much on goal,” said captain Christopher Trimmel. Union hasn’t scored its own goal in five games.
► 126.21: It’s not that there’s a lack of effort. The Iron Men ran 126 kilometers on Saturday. Union continues to be one of the strongest teams in the league. But the yield is missing. “Statistics aren’t everything. You have to analyze openly and honestly,” Trimmel told ARD. “You can feel that we make far too many mistakes. At that level it’s punished.”