Highlights

Matchday 16

FINAL

An der Alten Försterei

1. FC Köln

Datro FofanaDavid Datro Fofana

78'

HollerbachBenedict Hollerbach

56'

D. Aytekin

An der Alten Försterei

Huge win for Union

Union claim all three points over Cologne thanks to second-half goals from Benedict Hollerbach and David Datro Fofana (pictured). The Billy Goats were the better side for large periods, but Union were clinical when it mattered and they are now three points clear of the bottom three, who - including Cologne - are all on 10 points.

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Six minutes added on

Time running out for Cologne.

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.

Denis Huseinbašić33.59km/h

Rasmus Carstensen33.28km/h

Jan Thielmann33.13km/h

85'

Five minutes to go...

Can Cologne find a way back?

85'

Substitution

Brenden Aaronson

András Schäfer

80'

Substitution

Benno Schmitz

Max Finkgräfe

78'

Now it's 2-0

Well, Fofana's miss certainly didn't prove costly. He starts the counter and then finishes it to make it 2-0 this time around. It's his first Bundesliga goal and a great moment for the on-loan striker.

78'

David Datro Fofana

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.

25 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

10.98 m

76'

Should be 2-0

Fofana breaks clear and turns his man inside out to create a free shot at goal from 12 yards out but his effort is too close to Schwäbe, who saves with his legs. That should have put the game to bed, it's a massive chance gone begging.

75'

Last throw of the dice?

Cologne make a triple change, with Kainz, Dietz and Waldschmidt all thrown on. Can one of them inspire an equaliser?

74'

Substitution

Florian Kainz

Eric Martel

74'

Substitution

Florian Dietz

Davie Selke

74'

Substitution

Luca Waldschmidt

Mark Uth

72'

Union call on experience

The introductions of Trimmel and Bonucci feel very deliberate from Bjelica as he looks to see this one out. It must be said that Union have been all over Cologne since scoring and they almost make it 2-0 but for some excellent defending.

The match-winner?

68'

Substitution

Leonardo Bonucci

Janik Haberer

62'

Double Union swap

Meanwhile, Trimmel is on in defend for Die Eisernen and the goalscorer, Hollerbach is replaced with Král.

62'

Substitution

Alex Král

Benedict Hollerbach

62'

Substitution

Christopher Trimmel

Jérôme Roussillon

61'

Ljubicic on

Baumgart now reaches into his bench as Ljibicic replaces Thielmann. No formation change, but Maina and Ljubicic have swapped sides.

60'

Substitution

Dejan Ljubicic

Jan Thielmann

56'

Benedict Hollerbach

GOAL!

1:0

Goal probability

11 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

94.52 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

12.49 m

56'

Hollerbach goal

Somehow, Union are in front and it's a real piece of quality that's broken the deadlock. Hollerbach chops his defender inside and then lets fly into the top corner with his left foot. Great finish, massive goal.

52'

Selke denied

Another good save from Rønnow, who gets a strong right hand out to deny Selke's effort. Cologne well on top again.

46'

Union change

The home side make a change in attack for the second period, with Datro Fofana replacing Behrens. It must be said, Behrens was feeding off less than scraps in that first 45.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 3

Honours even at half-time

That was a cagey, nervous affair from two teams currently struggling in the league. It came to life at the end of the first-half and both sides will be happy enough to not be behind at the break.

45'

+ 2

Substitution

David Datro Fofana

Kevin Behrens

Half-time

44'

Great save Rønnow

Uth lets fly from the edge of the box but is superbly denied by Rønnow. Again, Union respond at the other end as both teams look to break the deadlock before the interval.

39'

End-to-end

Suddenly the game has opened up and there's a bit of life injected. Rønnow saves to his right from Uth's shot at one end before a Schwäbe error almost lets Union in at the other. Both sides keep making mistakes in possession, though, and just can't produce a good enough final ball.

37'

Cologne the happier team

Union just haven't gotten into this game at all so far and it's the away side that's been the better side. They will want to craft a serious chance before the break to capitalise on this, though.

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.

Rasmus Carstensen33.28km/h

Benedict Hollerbach32.81km/h

Jan Thielmann32.04km/h

29'

With the form book so far

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).

Considering it’s the league’s third-lowest scorers hosting its lowest, this stat shouldn’t surprise many.

xGoals

0.02

0.04

Goals

22'

Cologne looking out wide

The Billy Goats are trying to get into wide areas and have found space but the final ball, so far, hasn't been incisive enough.

Who will break first?

The visitors are getting a grip on the game now but still no goalmouth action to speak of.

10'

Goal attempts

0off target

0on target

0off target

0on target

10'

Slow and steady

Neither side has had a shot on goal after 10 minutes with this being played at arm's length thus far. Reflective of where these two teams are in the table.

Kick-off!

More on those teams

For the visitors, it comes as a surprise that Cologne captain Florian Kainz starts on the bench, with Marvin Schwäbe taking the armband for the evening. As for the hosts, there's one change from last time out as András Schäfer replaces Sheraldo Becker, who misses out entirely.

Union starting XI

Rønnow - Juranović, Knoche, Leite, Roussillon - Haberer, Khedira (c), Schäfer - Hollerbach, Behrens, Volland

Union subs

Schwolow, Jaeckel, Bonucci, Trimmel, Aaronson, Laidouni, Král, Kaufmann, Datro Fofana

Cologne starting XI

Schwäbe (c) - Carstensen, Hübers, Heintz, Finkgräfe - Huseinbašić, Martel - Thielmann, Uth, Maina - Selke

Cologne subs

Köbbing, Schmitz, Kilian, Ljubicic, Kainz, Alidou, Waldschmidt, Tigges, Dietz

Bjelica: "We will be prepared"

Union head coach Nenad Bjelica, meanwhile, wants his side to out-work Cologne at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. "We will be prepared. It will be about fighting and working hard, winning our duels - we did that very well against Gladbach, and very poorly versus Bochum. Cologne press hard, run hard, look to win their duels as well - if e are better in those areas, we will have a good chance of winning."

Baumgart: "Would give us a more positive feeling"

Cologne manager Steffen Baumgart is eager for his team to finish 2023 on a high after a difficult 2023/24 campaign so far. He said in pre-match press conference, "To end with a win would give us a more positive feeling heading into the winter break. That is our plan, that's how we want to start. Union are having a similar season and will go into the game in a similar manner."

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Good omen for Union?

Union are unbeaten in their eight Bundesliga assignments against Cologne to date, winning six and drawing two. Against no other top-flight team have they enjoyed such a long streak without tasting defeat.

Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!

2:03

Watch: Union Berlin 0-0 Cologne - previous meeting

The spoils were shared in a gritty encounter the last time these teams locked horns back in March this year.

2:03

Watch: Bochum 3-0 Union Berlin - highlights

Union likewise come into this fixture on the back of a defeat, the 3-0 reverse in Bochum on Saturday representing their first Bundesliga loss under new coach Nenad Bjelica.

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 2-0 Cologne - highlights

Cologne slipped to a ninth defeat of the season on Matchday 15 at the weekend, succumbing to second-half goals following Jeff Chabot's red card in the 62nd minute.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 16 fixture between Union Berlin and Köln.