Highlights
M. Fritz
Full-time: Union Berlin 4-2 Freiburg
© Boris Streubel/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
Full-time
90'
+ 7
Diogo Leite treated
The Portuguese defender is helped off the pitch after receiving some lengthy treatment following an elbow from Gregoritsch.
90'
+ 3
Freiburg pushing
Union Berlin have plenty of players back now and are defending with relative ease.
90'
Five minutes of stoppage time indicated
The home fans show they find that to be excessive, but they should be home and dry from here.
88'
Gießelmann free-kick wide
The free-kick sails wide of the post from 25 metres out. Only another couple of minutes plus stoppage time to play now, with the home fans in full voice again.
86'
Substitution
86'
Substitution
84'
Trio of Freiburg chances!
Rönnow punches a curling Sallai shot behind for a corner. Ginter then knocks the ball onto the crossbar and sends an overhead kick past the goalkeeper on the rebound that Thorsby clears off the line.
83'
Union punch
xGoals
4
1.6
1.46
4
Goals
82'
Substitution
80'
Laidouni makes it four!
Union Berlin burst Freiburg open on the break. Becker puts Jordan behind the defence, who lays it across for Laidouni, who is in acres in space and can calmly slot the ball past Flekken for his first Bundesliga goal.
79'
Sallai shot blocked
The Freiburg attacker has a chance from a tight angle and Knoche sticks a leg out in a great block.
77'
Corner to Freiburg
Grifo curls it in, but it's headed clear by Union Berlin.
76'
Jordan clips wide
Becker runs at Sildillia and cuts the ball across, and Jordan then knocks it wide at the near post.
73'
Penalty area scramble
Trimmel hoists a free-kick in and all hell breaks loose in the box, but Freiburg are eventually able to clear.
73'
You cannot take your eyes off this!
Freiburg looked down and out at half-time but with 20 minutes still to play, this tie is wide open again.
71'
Substitution
70'
Glorious Grifo penalty!
A cheeky Panenka from the Italian sees the ball sail over Rönnow and leaves Union on the ropes!
68'
Penalty to Freiburg!
The referee points to the spot as Sallai goes down under a challenge from Doeki. VAR confirms the spot kick will stand.
67'
SituationPenalty
ReviewFoul?
DecisionPenalty
66'
Höler wide
Encouraging for Freiburg. The ball is clipped over the defence and Höler meets it first time, sending it wide.
63'
Jordan on
The American will partner Becker as Urs Fischer makes a double change in order to freshen things up in the aim of keeping control of the game.
63'
Substitution
63'
Substitution
60'
Grifo fires over
The Italian takes the ball forward and smashes over from 20 metres out. An unlikely effort, but the intent will please the Freiburg fans who might just be thinking a comeback is possible.
59'
SituationNo penalty
ReviewHandball?
DecisionNo penalty
58'
Becker's pace has been crucial
Fastest runner (km/h)
33.53
31.94
Sheraldo Becker Christian Günter
56'
Gulde gets one back
Freiburg are known for their set-piece mastery and indeed a dead ball gives them a lifeline. Grifo swings a free-kick in and Manuel Gulde rises to sink a header straight in at the near post. Game on!
55'
Union fans sing of Champions League
The spring sun is shining, and the home fans are thinking ahead to the incredible new ground that their club could just take to next season. They need to see this one out though first!
53'
Streich makes two more switches
Gregoritsch will hope to offer an attacking outlet as the Freiburg coach tries to shake things up and inspire a way back.
53'
Substitution
53'
Substitution
Smashing first half for Sheraldo
© Boris Streubel/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
50'
Schäfer shoots
Schäfer drives the ball just wide from 30 metres out. It's been a quiet enough start to the second period, with no sign yet that Union's commanding lead is going to be threatened.
46'
Keitel header
The visitors have the first effort of the second period, as Keitel sends a looping header on target. A decent effort, but it's an ambitious one and Rönnow can gather without any trouble.
46'
We're underway again
Freiburg have made a change - and are hoping for a miracle comeback.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 4
Substitution
Half-time: Union Berlin 3-0 Freiburg
© Boris Streubel/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
Half-time
45'
Three minutes of stoppage time indicated
Plenty of Union Berlin fans probably do not want this first period to end, but Christian Streich will be eager to hear that half-time whistle.
44'
Union keeping the ball
Everything is clicking for the hosts now after Freiburg edged possession in the opening phases. The visitors surely need to find a way back into this fast to have any hopes of mounting a comeback.
42'
It's boisterous in Berlin
The Union Berlin faithful are lapping up every moment of this stunning first-half performance. They are on course for three points that will leave them in pole position to seal a top-four spot.
40'
Win Probability
1'
44.9 %
Now
96.5 %
38'
Becker again!
Union Berlin are all over Freiburg as Becker makes it three! A pull-back by Knoche to the edge of the box is smashed in past Flekken at the near post.
36'
Beautiful Becker goal!
Incredible play from the Union Berlin number 27. He receives a pass, beats a defender, hits a one-two with Knoche, strokes the ball between Flekken's legs and in before pulling out a spiderman mask for his celebration.
34'
Brilliant from Bekker
The Union Berlin forward receives the ball high up on the left and twists this way and that before firing a powerful shot off-target.
32'
Forced early change
Kübler goes down injured and is replaced by Sallai.
32'
Substitution
29'
Freiburg threaten
Freiburg's best moments so far. Leite clears the ball behind, and Kübler has a headed effort tipped over the crossbar by Rönnow. A Grifo shot from the next corner also requires a save from the Union goalkeeper after taking a deflection off Schäfer.
26'
Union keep coming
Roussillon clips a ball into the box now, which is cleared. It's been a busy shift for the Freiburg backline so far.
21'
Trimmel over
It's all Union so far, with the captain blasting over from just inside the box.
19'
Union break into the box again
Roussillon comes in from the left and plays the ball across to Schäfer, who is lurking around the penalty box, but his shot is blocked.
16'
Union Berlin race out of the blocks
14'
Furious start shakes Freiburg
Every time Union Berlin bring the ball forward, their intensity is threatening to break through the Freiburg defence.
Eight for the season for Behrens
© Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
10'
Becker brings the ball forward
A good chase down the right by Becker to win a corner. Diogo Leite heads wide from that. The rowdy Union Berlin faithful are loving this!
8'
Tactical equation shaken up
It will be fascinating to see how the sides approach things after that opening goal. Freiburg have seen most of the ball but now Union have extra incentive to sit deep and try to pick their opponents off on the break.
5'
Behrens blasts Union in front!
First chance, first goal! Union Berlin's famous efficiency in front of goal is on display again to devastating effect. Becker holds up a long ball upfield superbly before laying it across to his strike partner Kevin Behrens, who applies a tidy finish.
1'
Game on !
Away we go in Berlin. Huge 90 minutes ahead.
Kick-off!
Trimmel cheer
Christopher Trimmel is receiving a very special on-field presentation for that 300th competitive appearance we mentioned in an earlier post.
It's a beautiful day
The sun is shining down on the German capital as a packed Stadion An der Alten Försterei awaits both teams for today's Matchday 32 encounter. There's a superb atmosphere and conditions are perfect for football.
Trimmel milestone
© Imago
Günter 300 up
Visiting captain Christian Günter is set to appear in his 300th Bundesliga game this afternoon and he has featured in every single one wearing the colours of Freiburg. No other player has played for the Black Forest club in Germany's top flight more often.
More on that Union Berlin team
© IMAGO/O.Behrendt/IMAGO/Contrast
More on that Freiburg team
© Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Union Berlin starting XI
Ronnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel, Schäfer, Khedira, Haberer, Roussillon - Behrens, Becker
Union Berlin subs
Grill, Jaeckel, Juranovic, Gießelmann, Thorsby, Laidouni, Michel, Leweling, Jordan
Freiburg starting XI
Flekken - Kübler, Ginter, Gulde - Sildilla, Keitel, Höfler, Günter (c) - Doan, Grifo - Höler
Freiburg subs
Atubolu, Ezekwem, Schmidt, Eggestein, Sallai, Jeong, Weißhaupt, Petersen, Gregoritsch
2:03
Goal-greedy Grifo
2:03
Beaten but not bowed
Union back again
Despite a 1-0 loss in Augsburg, Union Berlin have now confirmed a European qualification spot for the third consecutive season. A spot in the UEFA Champions League would once have been beyond their wildest dreams, but win at home to Freiburg, and it will be within their grasp.
2:03
Defence remains tight despite loss
Freiburg fighting spirit
The visitors were beaten 0-1 to rival top-four hopefuls Leipzig last Saturday. Freiburg now have a chance to show the kind of resilience that has led to them not losing two successive matches all season. With Leipzig facing a trip to Bayern Munich next weekend, three points in Berlin could put Freiburg back in pole position among the three clubs squabbling for the two remaining spots in the top four.
Champions League calling
There is so much love for these two lesser fancied sides, who have battled at the business end of the table all season. They are currently level on points in fourth and fifth, meaning a win for either side would bring them really close to the dream of a first ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League.
Welcome along!
Here you can find all the information about 1. FC Union Berlin against SC Freiburg on matchday 32.