Fight, cramp, Cologne suffering
Union’s six-point win alleviates the pain of the first half of the season
December 20, 2023, 8:25 p.m
Where it says relegation battle, there is relegation battle inside: After a disastrous first half, Union Berlin wakes up in time against their direct rivals FC Köln. Thanks to the big points, the Iron Men are leaving the relegation zone, and the air is getting thinner and thinner for Effzeh coach Steffen Baumgart.
1. FC Cologne received the next severe blow at the end of the year and is sliding ever deeper into crisis under coach Steffen Baumgart. The Cologne team lost the groundbreaking basement duel at Union Berlin 0-2 (0-0) and spent the winter in a relegation zone in the Bundesliga. For Baumgart, it could have been his last game on the FC sidelines with his old love Union.
Benedict Hollerbach (56th) and David Fofana (78th) scored the goals for the Berliners, who gained a little breathing room after a desolate first half of the season and go into the Christmas break three points ahead of the relegation place. In Cologne, however, the alarm bells are ringing after only two wins from 16 games; managing director Christian Keller had already avoided making a clear commitment to the coach before the game – despite Baumgart’s courageous performance over long periods, there are no arguments for continued employment.
“The situation we have means that you are discussing the coach,” Baumgart said before the game. Of all places, the liberation attempt was to be achieved in his adopted hometown of Köpenick – and Cologne were the more active team from the start, but clear conclusions were initially lacking.
Union leadership from nowhere
The guests controlled the game through possession, the Berliners, who had striker Sheraldo Becker missing from the squad for disciplinary reasons, stood compactly and waited for the counterattack. A long-range shot from Cologne’s Eric Martel (27th) flew over the goal.
The Köpenick team hardly took place offensively, four days after the bitter 3-0 defeat in Bochum there was no sign of a rebellion or a game idea until the break. The first chance for coach Nenad Bjelica’s team resulted from Cologne losing the ball, but Kevin Behrens narrowly missed a cross (39′).
Shortly afterwards, the guests lost the lead: Denis Huseinbasic and Jan Thielmann scored from close range, Frederik Rönnow made two strong saves (43′). Even after the break, the guests continued to push forward, Davie Selke failed with a header past Rönnow (51′).
The Köpenickers then took the lead out of nowhere: Hollerbach came through strongly after a pass from Kevin Volland in the penalty area and shot the ball powerfully under the crossbar. Baumgart then whipped his team forward in a T-shirt, and the Cologne team ran desperately. Alex Kral missed the decision from close range (72nd). Even after that, Union missed a few counterattack opportunities – until Fofana scored.