Dortmund Held to Goalless Draw at Union Berlin as Unbeaten Start Stretches to Six
Borussia Dortmund were held to a goalless draw at Union Berlin on Saturday, dropping points for the second Bundesliga game in a row in a rugged, ill-tempered contest at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei in Köpenick.
The result extends Dortmund's unbeaten start to the league season to six matches, but leaves Niko Kovač's side frustrated once more by a lack of cutting edge. Union Berlin, meanwhile, remain in the bottom three.
A Fiery Opening Sets the Tone
The game began with controversy inside the opening minute when Ethan Nwaneri caught Tom Rothe with a sliding challenge. Referee Daniel Schlager initially produced a red card by mistake before correcting it to yellow.
The bookings kept coming. Waldemar Anton and Serhou Guirassy also picked up early cautions, taking the tally to three inside the first quarter of an hour. Union's Janik Haberer and Rothe then joined the list before half-time as the match turned increasingly robust.
Union goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow came under a barrage of crosses but handled each situation admirably, keeping Dortmund at bay through the opening exchanges.
Best Chances Fall Late in the First Half
The clearest openings of the first period arrived late. Nwaneri spurned a good opportunity when he failed to connect cleanly after a square pass, before Kastriot Imeri drove a free-kick from almost the touchline that Gregor Kobel did brilliantly to keep out with a low save.
Chances Come and Go After the Break
After the restart, birthday boy Maximilian Beier narrowly failed to turn in a Ryerson cross from close range, and Tim Skarke raced clear for Union only to fire over from inside the area. Guirassy headed over from a Ryerson free-kick, substitute Mathis Albert went close late on after a Guirassy touch found him unexpectedly, and Union's Felix Uduokhai headed off target from a corner.
The second half also saw Lustrinelli bring on Emmanuel Latte Lath for Imeri, a move that did little to reduce Skarke's attacking output. Another good opportunity fell the 30-year-old's way but he blazed over the top.
The introduction of Kostas Karetsas and Fábio Silva was expected to lift the energy levels, but the Greek prodigy hobbled off eight minutes later with an ankle injury. Kovač's remonstrations with the fourth official highlighted just how scrappy the contest had become.
In the end, neither side managed to land a decisive blow in normal time or the five minutes of injury time provided, and both sides had to settle for a point. It was a share of the spoils for the first time ever in this fixture.
Anton the Standout in a Game Short on Quality
Waldemar Anton was named Man of the Match, a constant presence at both ends for Dortmund. He picked up an early yellow card for a foul on Michel Aebischer before going close himself with a headed effort in the second half. He registered the most challenges won of any player on the pitch and was Dortmund's top performer in the Fantasy Manager rankings, underlining a composed and combative display in a game short on genuine quality.
Bundesliga Match Facts
- xGoals: Union Berlin 0.70 - Borussia Dortmund 0.88
- Fastest player: Kouakou Henry-Joane Aaron Aimerick Gadou (BVB), 35.02 km/h
- Pass efficiency: Zeno van den Bosch (FCU), +3.26
- Fantasy Heroes: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund, 125 Points), Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund, 101 Points), Kouakou Henry-Joane Aaron Aimerick Gadou (Borussia Dortmund, 97 Points)