Union Berlin remain top of the Bundesliga. Union turn the game around against Mönchengladbach in a dramatic final phase.

In the last second: Union Berlin reclaimed the top spot in the Bundesliga thanks to two late goals and remain unbeaten in the league this season at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The Köpenicker defeated the injury-plagued Borussia Mönchengladbach team 2:1 (0:1) on Sunday. In front of 22,012 spectators, Nico Elvedi had given the visitors the lead in the 33rd minute. Kevin Behrens (79th) and Danilho Doekhi (90th +7th) turned the game around for the Eisernen after a furious final quarter of an hour by the hosts. The defender scored the winning goal almost at the final whistle.

With the victory, Union jumped one point ahead of the serial champions Bayern Munich, who had scored against FSV Mainz 05 (6:2) on Saturday. The capital club has been at the top of the league since matchday six. The second win in a row, three days after their 1-0 Europa League win over Sporting Braga, means the Berliners go into Thursday’s crucial group match for a place in the knockout rounds at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (9pm/RTL+) with a tailwind.

The Foals under Daniel Farke missed out on jumping into a European Cup spot, at least temporarily, and are mid-table. Gladbach are winless in the league for three games.

For Gladbach defender Marvin Friedrich, it was the first sporting return to his former place of work. The Union promotion hero, who had moved from Berlin to the Lower Rhine in January, was honoured before the game and, as is customary in Köpenick, celebrated by the fans as a “football god”.

While Fischer was able to draw from a full complement and only changed his team in two positions, Farke again had to replace numerous players. The hosts controlled the opening phase. In the seventh minute, the Unioners set up their opponents with calm passing play. Janik Haberer’s shot from a good position was blocked.

The eleven from the Niederrhein became dangerous for the first time with a free kick by Alassane Plea from a central position (23rd). Union keeper Frederik Rönnöw saved the ball from the angle. Shortly afterwards, Sheraldo Becker deflected a shot by Rani Khedira into the visitors’ goal (29th), but clearly touched the ball with his hand. The goal did not count.

Gladbach now got into the game better. Union found it difficult to get into the penalty area. Most of the goals came from the second row. The visitors used their speed, which Fischer had warned them about. Nathan N’Goumou forced Union’s Bundesliga debutant Timoteusz Puchacz to clear the ball for a corner. Elvedi headed the ball into the net after receiving an assist from Lars Stindl. Just two minutes later, Marcus Thuram lofted a long ball over Rönnow, but then headed the ball from a difficult angle just over the goal.

After the break, the Berliners continued to have a lot of trouble creating danger. Fischer reacted in the 59th minute with a triple change. Captain Christopher Trimmel, attacker Sven Michel and midfielder Genki Haraguchi came on – initially without much effect. But the guests hardly became dangerous either. Then Gladbach keeper Tobias Sippel flew past a half-field cross from Diogo Leite. Behrens, also a substitute, rose into the air and heaved the ball into the goal. The striker had another great chance shortly afterwards, but shot over the bar. Then the hosts cheered when Christopher Trimmel scored with his head. But the goal was taken back because of an offside. It wasn’t over though, with the last action Doekhi fired the Berliners back on top.