Berlin offered Borussia Dortmund little room and even less comfort on Saturday, as Union Berlin held Niko Kovac’s side to a goalless draw at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Dortmund controlled much of the ball but could not turn territorial pressure into a breakthrough, extending a winless sequence that has begun to interrupt their strong start to the season.
Key takeaways
- Borussia Dortmund were held 0-0 away to Union Berlin despite enjoying most of the possession.
- Bayern Munich move top of the table on goal difference, level on points with Dortmund.
- Freiburg, one point behind the leading pair, can return to first place by beating Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
- Dortmund are now without a win in three matches across the Bundesliga and Champions League.
- Konstantinos Karetsas lasted only six minutes after coming on before injury forced him back off.
Union restore their defensive resistance
Union had looked vulnerable at the back during the opening rounds, but their familiar defensive discipline returned in the capital. They restricted Dortmund’s clearer routes to goal, while waiting for opportunities to break into open spaces or threaten from dead-ball situations.
The visitors carried the initiative throughout the first half, seeking width and trying to work their way around Union’s compact shape. Yet Friedrich Rönnow was rarely seriously tested. The closest Dortmund came before the interval arrived shortly before the break, when Nwaneri finished a neat combination inside the box with a shot too gentle to trouble the Union goalkeeper.
Maximilian Beier had another opening in the 55th minute, meeting Julian Ryerson’s delivery first time from inside the area, but sending his effort wide. Union then produced one of the match’s best moments three minutes later: Skarke escaped on a counterattack but also missed the target.
The contest remained short on clean chances, with intensity often giving way to disorder in the middle of the pitch. Dortmund had the ball and the wider attacking presence; Union had the patience to defend their box and the threat of a quick departure when the visitors committed numbers forward.
Kovac searches for a late answer
Kovac attempted to change the rhythm from the bench by introducing Fabio Silva and Karetsas. Silva linked promisingly at times with Serhou Guirassy and briefly appeared capable of providing the spark Dortmund needed. Karetsas, however, barely had a chance to influence the game, picking up an injury six minutes after his introduction and having to be replaced.
There was one final Dortmund opportunity in stoppage time. Ryerson again supplied the cross, this time for Mathis Albert, whose header drifted narrowly off target. It summed up an afternoon in which Dortmund got into useful positions but found no decisive final touch.
The draw follows a Bundesliga stalemate against Werder Bremen and a Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt, making it three games without victory for Dortmund. Bayern now lead on goal difference, with both Bayern and Dortmund sitting a point above Freiburg. The side from Breisgau travel to Leverkusen on Sunday knowing a win would take them back to the summit.
