Highlights

Matchday 7

FINAL

An der Alten Försterei

VfL Wolfsburg

BeckerSheraldo Becker

77'

JordanJordan

54'

R. Schröder

An der Alten Försterei

0:32

WATCH: BAUMGARTL: "MY COMEBACK IS FOR EVERYONE BATTLING CANCER"

0:13

WATCH: BECKER HAPPY WITH SCORING RECORD

90'

+ 5

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; THE LEAGUE LEADERS

Union Berlin climb back to the top of the table, still unbeaten and with the league's deadliest attacking duo.

Full-time

90'

+ 1

NINE STRIKES

Only Bayern Munich (19) have scored more goals this season than Union's 15, of which nine have come from the guys who just left the field.

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Micky van de Ven34.52km/h

Sheraldo Becker34.36km/h

Omar Marmoush33.64km/h

87'

STANDING OVATION

The Bundesliga's deadliest duo leave the field the way they have demolished Wolfsburg today - together. The whole stadium is on its feet, as the groundskeeper furiously looks for the number of that roof contractor. It's coming off.

87'

Substitution

Kevin Behrens

Jordan

87'

Substitution

Sven Michel

Sheraldo Becker

83'

SUPERIORITY

They have certainly been asking most of the questions, and will like two of the answers they got: Union streets ahead on the shot count.

Goal attempts

12off target

4on target

4off target

0on target

81'

IT STANDS!

The referee confirms Becker's control was legitimate, and the goal stands! Union heading back to the top of the table!

79'

COOL AS A CUCUMBER

That, ladies and gentlemen, is why Becker is top of the scoring charts with six goals for the season. He takes a lofted pass from Seguin down on his chest and side-foots it in... but the referee wants to have a closer look at his control of the ball...

79'

Substitution

Kevin Paredes

Bartol Franjić

78'

Substitution

Jakub Kamiński

Josip Brekalo

TOP, TOP, TOP, TOP, TOP OF THE LEAGUE!

This is a particularly nice image for Union fans...

77'

SituationGoal

ReviewPrevious handball?

DecisionGoal

77'

Sheraldo Becker

GOAL!

2:0

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

46 %

76'

Substitution

Paul Seguin

András Schäfer

74'

ANOTHER CHANCE GOES BEGGING

Jordan has a shot blocked, leaving a bruise on a Wolfsburg defender's thigh, and Thorsby is there to pick up the pieces and place a shot just wide of the post. A good opportunity to double their lead goes begging.

72'

JUGGLING EUROPE WELL

You would not have thought that Union were playing in Europe on Thursday while Wolfsburg were resting, at least not in view of the fact they have run a collective mile more than their guests today.

Distance run (km)

94.6

69'

Substitution

Yannick Gerhardt

Paulo Otávio

67'

3.2% WIN PROBABILITY

Can Wolfsburg prove the statistics wrong? With a quarter of the game to go, they have a win probability similar to a pretty weak alcoholic beverage.

66'

HEADS UP

Union have now scored four headed goals this season, with Jordan nodding in half of them. Only Werder Bremen (5) have more headed goals this term.

64'

IS THERE ANYTHING HE CANNOT DO?

Here he is again, at the top of another chart in the latest Becker-appreciation post.

Fastest runner (km/h)

34.2

34.52

Sheraldo Becker Micky van de Ven

2:35

DIFFERENCE MAKER

There is a reason why Becker's known as Union's difference maker.

TOP OF THE CHARTS

You are looking at the league's leading scorer, with five goals and, now, three assists. Step forward and take a bow Sheraldo Becker.

62'

Substitution

Morten Thorsby

Janik Haberer

62'

Substitution

Paul Jaeckel

Timo Baumgartl

60'

Substitution

Felix Nmecha

Luca Waldschmidt

60'

Substitution

Omar Marmoush

Mattias Svanberg

55'

ALL GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES!

After going close twice, Jordan stoops to head in from close range and give Union the lead. Fine cross from Becker - what a partnership!

54'

Jordan

GOAL!

1:0

Goal probability

6 %

51'

ARNOLD CLOSE!

That was very, very close! A Low drive from the edge of the area spins away from goal and zips past the post, taking a lick of paint off the outside of it.

49'

ANOTHER ONE MISSED!

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Another big chance for Jordan, who hooks a near-post effort over. Like in the first half, Union have hit the ground running at the restart.

xGoals

0.8

0.08

Goals

47'

HUGE CHANCE FOR THE HOSTS!

Jordan's first sight of goal today, and he places his shot just an inch or two wide of the right-hand post. The chance was laid on a plate for him by Schäfer.

46'

AWAY WE GO

Union going from right to left in this second half.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 2

ALL SQUARE

Goalless at the break, with Union having the most chances, but Wolfsburg squandering the best.

Half-time

45'

SCRAPPY AND EVEN

Very little between the two teams in this first half, which has become a little bit scrappy. Both teams are almost level on passes, and pass accuracy too. Can either gain the edge?

Passes

220

225

33'

BAUMGARTL EFFORT

If that had gone in, a local roofing contractor might have been receiving a call for emergency support here. Baumgartl's header goes straight at Casteels, though, so the roof is still on the Alte Försterei - for now.

32'

BREKAL-OOOOH!

The first chance for Wolfsburg and it's the biggest yet! Franjic drives through the Union defence and backheels the ball for Brekalo, whose low drive is curling away from the far post and goes just wide.

30'

UNION CLAIMING A PENALTY

The ball may have bounced up against a Wolfsburg player's arm inside the area, but a quick check of the replay clarifies it is no penalty.

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Micky van de Ven34.52km/h

Sheraldo Becker34.20km/h

Bartol Franjić32.01km/h

18'

NEXT CHANCE FOR THE HOSTS

Leite gets his head on a free-kick, but sends the ball over. Although Wolfsburg have seen more of the ball, the chances continue to fall at just one end of the field.

16'

TIDE TURNING

Wolfsburg have managed to get their foot on the ball a bit more now and stifled Union's threat.

Possession (%)

4555

STORM WEATHERED?

Wolfsburg have had to deal with more danger in this opening five minutes than they did in the full 90 against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. But something suggests they have not seen the last of it.

BLIND UNDERSTANDING

Almost some showboating about the way Sheraldo Becker and Jordan combined just now, with some intuitive touches - they are developing a blind understanding up front for Union.

FINE FIRST FIVE

...from a Union perspective. Now can they turn their next shot into a goal?

Goal attempts

1off target

1on target

0off target

0on target

BECKER BLAZES OVER

Already the second shot of the game from Union with the league's top-scorer Becker blazing one over from the edge of the area.

GREAT START!

Almost the opening goal with just 40 seconds on the clock for Union! A sweet, stinging volley from Haberer is straight at Casteels, however, who does not need to move much to make the block.

Kick-off!

FULL HOUSE!

What an atmosphere as the teams emerge, to a sea of red and white. Kick-off is seconds away.

OLDER UNION

What those three changes do is lift the average age of the Union starting XI by almost two years to 28.3 years. Fischer goes for experience for this return to Bundesliga action.

JUGGLING WITH EUROPE

Not only are Union seeking a return to the top of the Bundesliga, they are having to do all this with the added burden of European football They played Braga in the Europa League on Thursday and Fischer's made three changes from that team, with the aforementioned Baumgartl coming in with Gießelmann and Trimmel, replacing Jaeckel, Puchacz and Ryerson.

0:14

FIT FOR THE TOP

Here's Union's home, the Stadion an der alten Försterei, fit for league leaders.

0:10

GLIMPSE IN THE UNION DRESSING ROOM

Here's how the Union dressing room is looking this afternoon.

NEVER CHANGE A WINNING TEAM

After winning their first game in the Bundesliga all season last weekend, there are no changes to the team to face Union, as Wolfsburg look to make it two wins on the spin.

BAUMGARTL'S RETURN

Timo Baumgartl returns to action for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer. He has successfully fought his way back, making his return to the starting XI today less than five months since his last appearance (20 April in a 2-1 defeat to RB Leipzig) is remarkable.

WOLFSBURG STARTING XI:

Casteels - Baku, Lacroix, Van de Ven, Otavio - Svanberg, Franjic, Arnold (c) - Waldschmidt, L. Nmecha, Brekalo

UNION STARTING XI:

Ronnow - Baumgartl, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Schäfer, Khedira, Haberer, Gießelmann - Becker, Jordan

BACK-TO-BACK WINS?

Bidding to upset Union are a Wolfsburg side looking for back-to-back wins, after registering their first in the Bundesliga under Niko Kovac last time out. Luca Waldschmidt, Lukas Nmecha and Josip Brekalo formed a three-man attack at home to Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt in that win, restricting Omar Marmoush to a substitute role for the third successive game.

SURPRISE LEADERS

Last weekend was the first time since 1970 that Union had placed first in a top tier, back when they led the DDR-Oberliga, which represented the peak of East Germany's footballing pyramid. Even then it was a surprise to be stationed so high, with Union only ever topping the Oberliga once prior, during the 1967/68 campaign. So can they climb back up there, or will there stay prove to be a short-lived one?

UNION AIMING TO RETURN TO THE TOP

A win would take Union back to the top of the pile, after Dortmund dislodged them on Saturday. With Bayern Munich losing on Saturday, Urs Fischer's men could even put five points between them and the record champions heading into the international break.

THE SEASON SO FAR

Other than Bayern, Union are the only unbeaten team left in this season's Bundesliga. They've won four of six games, drawing the other two, and boast the division's joint leading scorer in Sheraldo Becker. As for Niko Kovac's lowly Wolfsburg, they finally won at the sixth attempt, beating Eintracht Frankfurt last time out.

WELCOME!

Union Berlin went top of the Bundesliga for the first time in their history last weekend. Can Die Eisernen get the result needed to go into the September international break on pole?