Leipzig Strengthen Top-Four Bundesliga Hold as Union Berlin Suffer Another Defeat

RB Leipzig picked up their fifth straight Bundesliga win with a strong 3-1 result against Union Berlin. The result improved their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League and left Marie-Louise Eta still looking for her first win as Union’s interim coach.

Leipzig started the game on the front foot, as Antonio Nusa tested Frederik Ronnow early in the 7th minute. The Union goalkeeper then made another good save from Romulo shortly after. But he could not stop Max Finkgrafe from scoring in the first half. After Leopold Querfeld’s headed clearance dropped into his path, Finkgrafe hit a half-volley from outside the box to score his first Bundesliga goal.

Union’s problems got worse just three minutes later. Querfeld tried to pass the ball back to Ronnow, but Romulo intercepted it and calmly finished into an empty net to make it 2-0.

Things continued to go against Union before the half-hour mark when Ronnow picked up an injury and had to come off. He was replaced by Carl Klaus, who was making his Bundesliga debut. The substitute goalkeeper was quickly called into action, tipping Christoph Baumgartner’s header onto the crossbar to stop Leipzig from adding a third before halftime

Union Berlin showed a bit more fight after the restart, but they still couldn’t really create clear chances. Leipzig stayed in control and made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute when Diomande set up Ridle Baku to finish off the move.

Union finally got on the scoresheet in the 78th minute, as Danilho Doekhi rose well to head in from Josip Juranovic’s corner, giving the visitors something to cheer about. In stoppage time, Ilyas Ansah thought he had scored again for Union, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Leipzig eventually held on comfortably, making it five wins in a row and going six points clear of fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart before the rest of the weekend matches.