Surprise package Union Berlin: a perfect example of efficiency
In Simon Rolfes, the Bundesliga and its partner AWS have an expert who knows the Bundesliga from A to Z. Bayer 04 Leverkusen's Sporting Director, Rolfes wore Die Werkself's colours 288 times between 2005 and 2015, and represented Germany on 26 occasions. Rolfes is the ideal man to write a weekly column for the 'Bundesliga Match Facts Zone' on bundesliga.com, analysing current trends and giving unique insight on the Bundesliga Match Facts.
This time, he sheds light on how Union Berlin have been proving the experts wrong, thanks to a perfect example of efficiency.
By Simon Rolfes
Prior to the start of the season, many experts were tipping 1. FC Union Berlin for relegation at the end of this, their traditionally tough second season since promotion to the Bundesliga. After 14 matchdays, though, many are having to eat their words with Urs Fischer's men so far from the foot of the table that they are actually in the mix for a place in Europe next season. Without a doubt, they are one of the Bundesliga's surprise packages this season – and deservedly so.
While the club from the capital relied heavily on their set-piece skills for their survival last season, Union's game has expanded somewhat this season. What has impressed me the most has been how efficient they have been in front of goal.
xGoals vs. goals scored: only Bayern and Leverkusen more efficient
A glance at the Bundesliga Match Facts confirms my impression: Union are currently on 22.85 xGoals. This means that, in view of the chances they have created, they would have been expected to have scored almost 23 times. In fact, Union have found the back of the net 29 times and there are only two teams in the Bundesliga with a greater difference between xGoals and actual goals: FC Bayern München and Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Let's just look at their game against Werder Bremen on Matchday 14 as an example. From an xG of just 0.84, Fischer's men scored twice. Werder, on the other hand, had an xG of 1.01 in this game, yet they failed to find the back of the net even once. So while Bremen created the better chances, it was Union's efficiency in front of goal that won them the game.
Watch: Union's efficiency sees off Bremen
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Friedrich and Andrich particularly effective
With Taiwo Awoniyi, who needed just a bit of time to find his feet in the Bundesliga, Union now have a centre forward who fills the role description perfectly. The Liverpool loanee has scored five goals in his past seven appearances. Yet there are also other Union players boasting admirable levels of efficiency in front of the opposition's goal, such as defender Marvin Friedrich. The Bundesliga's most potent centre back with four goals has delivered that off the back of an xG of just 1.35.
Friedrich has become an ideal target for the pinpoint accurate set-pieces whipped in by captain Christopher Trimmel. As if that is not already impressive enough, Friedrich boasts the record of scoring the goal with the lowest xG value in the Bundesliga this season, with only six per cent of players likely to score with a header from the position he scored from against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 13.
Union's midfield dynamo Robert Andrich has been particularly impressive too. Whereas it took him 48 shots to open his account in the 2019/20 season, making him the most unsuccessful player in the Bundesliga in terms of goals per shot up to when he broke his duck on Matchday 30, he already has three to his name this term. Comparing xGoals and actual goals in the 2020/21 campaign, it may not come as a surprise to find the names of Andrich and Friedrich among the top ten.
Becker bright on the break, Kruse the playmaker
The logical result of all this is that Union have scored 11 goals more than they had at the very same stage of last season. There is no doubt that the team has improved not only in terms of its goalscoring, but also when it comes to style of play. With Sheraldo Becker, they now have a player among their ranks who revels on the counterattack, with his top speed of 35.27 km/h (21.91mph) placing him among the top ten quickest players in the Bundesliga, while he is also becoming increasingly effective in front of goal. And of course there is the quality of the currently injured Max Kruse, who provides even greater opportunities, also to be able to dictate games by himself.
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Union will continue to go into most of their fixtures this season as the outsiders, which makes it all the more important that they gain the best possible return from the few chances they create. Fischer's troops have proven adept at this so far this season, and I feel this is much less down to luck than it is to do with the quality within a very well balanced team.
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