Union Berlin were left ruing missed chances from a dominant second-half showing, ultimately settling for a point in a 0-0 draw away to Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday.

Bielefeld 0-0 Union Berlin

After fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin and Cologne both picked up points this weekend, Bielefeld were aware they needed to follow suit in the final Matchday 24 fixture in order to keep alive their hopes of climbing out of the relegation play-off position. The going was tough, however, in their first game under new head coach Frank Kramer in a physical contest against a battling Union side. Most of the action was concentrated in a midfield tussle, with just four shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. Bielefeld had three of those, the best of which fell to Sergio Cordova, who was left with just Andreas Luthe to beat following a brilliantly disguised through-ball from Manuel Prietl, but the Union goalkeeper made a superb save to keep it out. Andreas Vogelsammer also had a sight of goal, but his shot from a tight angle was no trouble for Luthe, leaving the game goalless at the interval.

The visitors hadn't managed a single effort on target before the break, and quickly set about changing that in the second period. Christopher Trimmel strode forward down the right wing and crossed into the box for Marius Bülter, whose header from 10 yards out drew an excellent diving save from Stefan Ortega. Bülter had the visitors' next opportunity too, cutting in from the right and shooting towards the far post, but again Ortega was well placed to save. Substitute Petar Musa then headed over from eight yards as Union flexed their muscles, but their best chance fell to Keita Endo, who was sent through on goal by Marvin Friedrich, but he fired wide of the far post in the one-on-one with Ortega. The Bielefeld goalkeeper kept his side in the game with another outstanding stop shortly afterwards, denying the unmarked Endo from 10 yards to ensure his side picked up another valuable point in their bid for survival.

Match stats

• Ritsu Doan started a game on the bench for the first time this season for Bielefeld.
• Fellow Japanese midfielder Masaya Okugawa, on the other hand, made his first start.
• After three games in the Union team Loris Karius was back on the bench, with Luthe returning to the starting XI following injury.
• Arminia have claimed 13 of their 19 points this season on home soil.
• This was the first time this season that Bielefeld have drawn a game at home.
• Union only managed one shot in the first half, but had six (to Bielefeld's two) in the second period.

Watch: Luthe: "Competition for places with Karius doesn't unsettle me"

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Line-ups

Bielefeld: Ortega - Brunner (de Medina 79'), Pieper, Nilsson, Laursen - Prietl, Maier (Hartel 79') - Cordova (Voglsammer 29'), Vlap (Doan 65'), Okugawa - Klos (c) (Schipplock 79')
Unused subs: Linner, van der Hoorn, Gebauer, Yabo
Out: Kunze (suspended), Soukou (knock)
Coach: Frank Kramer
 
Union: Luthe - Friedrich, Knoche, Ryerson - Trimmel (c), Prömel, Andrich, Bülter - Ingvartsen (Endo 62') - Pohjanpalo (Musa 63'), Kruse (Gentner 85')
Unused subs: Karius, Schlotterbeck, Dajaku, Hübner, Griesbeck, Teuchert
Out: Awoniyi (thigh), Becker (ankle), Gießelmann (shoulder), Lenz (muscular), Ujah (knee)
Coach: Urs Fischer

About the clubs

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei