By Matthias Koch and Roman Unger
Now it has caught the iron ones too! For the first time and across the seasons after 14 games, Union again loses a game in the Bundesliga.
Pity! The 0:2 Frankfurt is fine. Small consolation: Because BVB loses at the same time in Cologne (2: 3), the Köpenickers remain first. There are defiant shouts of “frontrunner, frontrunner” from the Union block.
Midfielder Rani Khedira: “Losing games doesn’t feel good. I’ve always emphasized that the 17 points are good for us and are a good cushion.” Khedira continues: “At some point it was to be expected that you would lose a game. The Bundesliga is too strong for that. It was a beautiful series.”
Union loses the game before the break
12 minutes: Frankfurt’s Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani switches on the turbo, dribbles around Timo Baumgartl and storms into the penalty area. Even Leite can’t stop him there. The striker lays it back to Mario Götze, who shoots in from ten meters – 0:1!
Frankfurt’s Jesper Lindström threw up the Berlin defense in his solo to make it 2-0 Photo: Arne Dedert/dpa
42 minutes: Defender Paul Jaeckel does not go to the ball properly after a pass by Leite, Jesper Lindström says thank you, goes on the journey. In the penalty area, he first lets Jaeckel get out, then Baumgartl slips into the void. In the end, the Dane casually pushes in – 0:2.
Jaeckel on “Sky”: “This is football, mistakes happen. That was one.” Manager Oliver Ruhnert also sees it this way: “We made too many mistakes, unusual, invited the opponent.”
The Union series is cracked. At the end of the day, the Irons were in the majority because Kolo Muani – who had already been warned – jumped on the ankle of substitute Andras Schäfer (69′). Result: yellow-red.
Paul Jaeckel tries to stop Frankfurt striker Kolo Moani Photo: HEIKO BECKER/REUTERS
Joker Tim Skarke, in his first Bundesliga appearance, checks Eintracht keeper Trapp (79th) – that’s all there is to it. Overall, it’s not enough of the Fischer Elf. The storm duo Sheraldo Becker and Jordan Siebatcheu also has few highlights.
In the 66th minute, Becker’s working day is over, this time he doesn’t even complain. Also indicative of his and Union’s performance…
In addition, the defensive, in which Robin Knoche only sits on the bench for the first time in a Union game, does not look safe. The reason for this? And can he play again in Malmö on Thursday? Coach Urs Fischer: “Things are looking good for Robin. It was private circumstances that prevented him from playing.”