Bayern held by Union | OneFootball

Bayern Munich held to draw by resilient Union Berlin after late equaliser

Benedict Hollerbach pounced on a late fumble by Jonas Urbig to snatch an unlikely point for Union Berlin against Bayern Munich, cancelling out Leroy Sané's opener in a 1-1 draw.

Union Berlin 1-1 Bayern Munich0-1 Sané 75’ (assist: Stanišić), 1-1 Hollerbach 83’

The clash between Union and Bayern at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei promised an intriguing battle between two teams with contrasting objectives. The match lived up to expectations, delivering a tense and tactical encounter that ended in a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming in the final quarter of the game.

Serge Gnabry of Bayern Munich challenges Frederik Rønnow of Union Berlin, exemplifying the intense competition throughout the match. (IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Scott Coleman)

Bayern dominate but struggle to break through

From the outset, Bayern asserted their dominance, controlling possession and pinning Union back in their own half. Despite having up to 80 percent of the ball in the first half, the visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised Union defence. Michael Olise emerged as a bright spark for Bayern, consistently escaping pressure and creating opportunities. Union's resilient defending, led by Frederik Rønnow in goal, kept the score level at half-time. The closest either side came to scoring was in the 45th minute when Serge Gnabry's effort from a tight angle was well saved by Rønnow.

Benedict Hollerbach scores the crucial equaliser for Union Berlin against Bayern Munich. (IMAGO/Matthias Koch)

Chances emerge in second half

The second half saw an increase in goalmouth action. In the 50th minute, Harry Kane forced a good save from Rønnow with a well-struck free-kick. Bayern continued to press, and in the 63rd minute, Jamal Musiala had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock but his shot from close range was expertly saved by Rønnow. As the game wore on, Bayern's persistence finally paid off in the 75th minute when substitute Sané found the net. The goal came from a well-worked move, with Olise feeding Josip Stanišić, whose cut-back was expertly finished by Sané.

Union's late equaliser stuns Bayern

Just as Bayern seemed set for victory, Union struck back in dramatic fashion. In the 83rd minute, a cross from Josip Juranović led to a goal-scoring opportunity, which substitute Hollerbach capitalised on, slotting home the equaliser. Hollerbach's goal, his seventh of the season, sent the home crowd into raptures and set up a tense finale. Despite late pressure from both sides, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, a result that felt like a victory for Union and two points dropped for Bayern.

Player of the Match: Michael Olise

While the match ended in a draw, Olise stood out as Bayern's most influential player. The midfielder showcased his ability to handle pressure, completing 90 percent of his passes and creating several chances for his team. Olise's vision and technique were crucial in Bayern's attacking play, and he played a key role in the build-up to Sané's goal. His performance, which included winning 19 challenges and being pressed 41 times (the most in the match), underlined his importance to Bayern's midfield.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Union Berlin 1.15 - Bayern Munich 1.92Fastest player: Alphonso Davies (Bayern), 36.24 km/hLowest goal probability: 1-1 by Benedict Hollerbach (Union), 53 percentMost pressed player: Michael Olise (Bayern), 41 times under pressurePass efficiency: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern), +4.47

Fantasy Heroes: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern, 334 Points), Michael Olise (Bayern, 268 Points), Jamal Musiala (Bayern, 243 Points)

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