The match was led by two unfamiliar faces: Babak Keyhanfar (l.) and Alexander Zickler (r.), respective assistant coaches at Union Berlin and RB Leipzig. - © IMAGO/O.Behrendt

bundesliga

RB Leipzig vs. Union Berlin achieves bizarre feat as the game without coaches

14.09.2024

Union Berlin may have thought they had the upper hand after realising that Marco Rose was suspended for their Bundesliga clash at RB Leipzig, but things later evened out in unexpected circumstances.

Leipzig boss Rose was out of action for the Matchday 3 clash after receiving two yellow cards with just 26 minutes on the clock in his side's previous game against Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 2.

Watching the remainder of the game from the stands, he had one of the best seats in the house as he watched his side come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and end the defending champions’ 43-game domestic unbeaten streak.

Rose had some fun with Leverkusen fans after his sending off at the BayArena. - IMAGO/motivio

Heading back home to host Union on Saturday, Leipzig had all the time in the world to prepare for 90 minutes without Rose - unlike their opponents.

In the build-up to the match, rival head coach Bo Svensson was unable to take his usual pre-match press conference during the week due to an infection, and then come matchday he was nowhere to be seen.

The club confirmed Svensson was still out of action ahead of kick-off, and then, shortly before the whistle was blown, the most unexpected handshake of the season took place between assistants Babak Keyhanfar of Union and Alexander Zickler of Leipzig.

So was this the first time a Bundesliga match has taken place without the head coach of either side present on the sidelines? No, but it was the first since 2022, when Thomas Reis and Adi Hütter were missing for Bochum and Borussia Mönchengladbach respectively as they’d both picked up Covid 19.

Despite the evening-out of numbers, the pressure was still on Leipzig. "I trust the boys and my coaching team," said Rose before the game. "At half-time we also have analysts who can consolidate or correct our plan in discussions with the team. The focus is on the game, and not on whether Rose is on the sidelines.”