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| Janik Haberer of 1. FC Union Berlin shoots at goal during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund at Stadion an der alten Försterei on October 16, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. |
Union Berlin have again proved their brilliant start to the Bundesliga season is no fluke as they easily beat supposed title challengers Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at home.
But champions Bayern Munich are on their tail, having leapfrogged their opponents Freiburg to move into second spot, four points behind Union, after a 5-0 romp at the Allianz Arena.
Serge Gnabry, the impressive Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Leroy Sane, Sadio Mane and Marcel Sabitzer all scored for the champions.
At Union’s Stadion An der Alten Forsterei home, they took an early lead after Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel slipped when trying to clear and presented Janik Haberer with the easiest goal he will ever score.
More poor play from Dortmund’s backline allowed Union to engineer their second, with midfielder Haberer on hand to sweep in his second from the edge of the area on 21 minutes.
Dortmund, who grabbed a last-gasp 2-2 draw at home to Bayern last weekend, were far too passive at Union with Anthony Modeste out with injury and illness and Marco Reus only fit enough to come off the bench and have a half chance in the second half.
Union are now unbeaten at home in the league in 11 games, their last defeat coming in the 3-0 loss to Dortmund in February.
Dortmund dropped down to eighth, seven points adrift of the leaders.
In Munich, Bayern were without the injured Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller, with veteran forward Choupo-Moting making a rare start against Freiburg.
It was the Cameroonian’s clever pass which helped set up the opener. He expertly played in Davies for a cross and Sane’s effort was saved by Mark Flekken, only for Gnabry to head in the rebound on 13 minutes.
Choupo-Moting – Bayern’s only real number nine after Robert Lewandowski’s exit – scored himself just after the half-hour from Sane’s flick.
A one-two with Choupo-Moting launched Sane to lash home the third in the second half and Freiburg’s defence melted away for Mane to chip in before Sabitzer completed the scoring.
“I was super happy to play. And we played great from beginning to end. It was a lot of fun,” Choupo-Moting said.
Freiburg are now in third, a point behind Bayern.
Former Dortmund forward Steffen Tigges earlier scored twice as seventh-placed Cologne ended a bad run by coming from behind to beat Augsburg 3-2 at home.