With a double goal boost, Union Berlin continued its brilliant start to the season in the Bundesliga and massively exacerbated the problems of TSG Hoffenheim. The Irons laid the foundation for their 2:1 (2:0) victory in the Stadion an der Alten Försterei with the first goals from new signings Tom Rothe (3rd minute) and Wooyeong Jeong (5th). Former Union player Marius Bülter (67th) was only able to shorten the lead for the Kraichgau team.
On the fourth matchday, the still unbeaten Berlin team moved into the top group. At Hoffenheim, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has to put up with a lot of unpleasant questions after the third defeat in a row and a lackluster performance at the bottom of the table for far too long.
A year ago Real Madrid
Exactly one year ago to the day, the Iron Ones returned home from Madrid on a special flight. Back then, they had suffered a defeat at Real in the glittering world of the Champions League. The season took a disastrous course. Now, Köpenick is back to normal. Football is being played without frills again. Others should be beautiful and rich.
Hoffenheim also had to come to terms with the idea quickly put forward by new coach Bo Svensson, and that after two recent defeats. Whatever Matarazzo had thought up as an antidote, it worked miserably. Quick passes to the front, confusion in the penalty area. Union had doubled its goal tally this season within just five minutes thanks to the accuracy of new signings Rothe and Jeong.
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So it’s clear what Union stands for again. It certainly doesn’t look like a relegation battle this season. How things will go at Hoffenheim was left vague at best. No resistance, no aggression. Others have stumbled in the football thicket of the Alte Försterei before. In the 43rd minute, Berlin goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow had to intervene for the first time in his 100th competitive game for the Iron Ones. Tim Drexler’s long-range shot was no problem for the Dane.
Union President Dirk Zingler had already criticized a certain passivity in the final phase of the first half in an interview with Sky. The club boss had a nose for it. The Berliners did indeed lose momentum. Hoffenheim followed suit and former Union player Bülter recognized the signs. His goal with a low shot made the game exciting again. Now TSG dominated and pushed, as Matarazzo might have hoped beforehand – in vain. Defending narrow leads has always been part of Union’s successful identity.
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