Bundesliga Player Ratings | Union Berlin and Stuttgart Serve Up an Easter Classic | OneFootball

Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart broke a Bundesliga record today as they shared eight goals in the first half of their Bundesliga clash.

The 4-4 draw was enough to secure Union Berlin’s Bundesliga safety for another season after an extraordinary game of football.

Story of the match

With Bundesliga results going their way elsewhere, Union Berlin had all but secured their survival for another season ahead of kick-off.

In truth, it was inevitable.

With the second best form in Bundesliga over the last five games, Union welcomed VfB Stuttgart playing like a well-oiled machine.

The visitors, on the other hand, have been struggling of late.

With just one win since early February, Stuttgart are sliding down the Bundesliga table and sit 11th, seven points off Mainz 05 in sixth.

They could still dream of European qualification but it quickly drifted away in the Hauptstadt.

In the 5th minute, Union took the lead as Andrej Ilic scored from a Christopher Trimmel corner.

A few minutes later, Stuttgart should have been level.

Ermedin Demirovic was sent clear of the Union defence but fluffed a huge chance as his final touch went missing one-on-one with Frederik Rönnow.

Demirovic was immediately punished for his mistake.

In the 19th minute, Danilho Doekhi was left unmarked in the box to head in his first goal of the Bundesliga season.

But this was just the beginning of the goals in a wonderfully free-flowing game.

In the 23rd minute, Deniz Undav struck a delightful effort from 20 yards that sailed pass Rönnow into the bottom left corner.

Stuttgart had found their stride.

Six minutes later, they were level thanks to a sumptuous curling shot from Enzo Millot from 25 yards.

In the 39th minute, Leopold Querfeld somehow outdid Millot from 30 yards.

A fierce dipping strike found the top corner and left Nübel hopelessly stranded in the Stuttgart goal.

It was audacious and spectacular.

But neither side were interested in defending and Stuttgart were straight back at Union.

This time, Chabot flicked a header into the bottom corner from a free-kick.

There was still time for Stuttgart to score once more.

Führich made space 12 yards out with some magical footwork and found the top corner to seemingly send Stuttgart into the break with a slim but miraculous lead.

But it wasn’t over yet.

In the final minute of five minutes added time, Ilic had his second and Union their fourth, with a delicate header from a deep free-kick.

It was, finally, breathlessly, the final action of an extraordinary half of football.

The second half served up fewer goals but no less excitement.

There were chances at both ends, as Mittelstädt and Millot went close for the visitors.

Up the other end, Benedict Hollerbach and substitute, Laszlo Benes tested the Stuttgart defence but both sides had improved at the back after the break.

Union went closest to breaking the deadlock in the 81st minute, when Hollerbach nearly tapped in a cross but Nübel did well to smother the deflected shot.

It seemed that the first half had taken the punch out of both sides.

But there was time for one more golden chance.

In the 90th minute, Querfeld rose highest but couldn’t keep his header down.

It was have been harsh on Stuttgart who more than played their part in a wonderful game of football that appropriately finished all square.

Union Berlin:

Union Berlin lineup (3-5-2): Frederik Rönnow (GK) (6), Danilho Doekhi (9), Leopold Querfeld (9), Diogo Leite (9), Christopher Trimmel (9), Andras Schafer (8), Rani Khedira (8), Janik Haberer (8), Tom Rothe (8), Benedict Hollerbach (9), Andrej Ilic (9)

Substitutions: Laszlo Benes (6), Marin Ljubičić (6), Tim Skarke (6), Lucas Tousart (6)

VfB Stuttgart:

Stuttgart lineup (4-2-3-1): Alexander Nübel (GK) (7), Leonidas Stergiou (6), Finn Jeltsch (6), Julian Chabot (8), Maximilian Mittelstädt (6), Atakan Karazor (6), Angelo Stiller (6), Deniz Undav (8), Enzo Millot (9), Chris Führich (9), Ermedin Demirović (7),

Substitutions: Ramon Hendriks (6), Pascal Stenzel (6), Jacob Bruun Larsen (6)

Player of the Match: Leopold Querfeld

The Austrian centre-back has been in sparkling attacking form recently.

The 21-years old isn’t known for scoring goals, especially as a centre-back, but Querfeld is starting to get a reputation.

Querfeld provided a vital assist two weeks ago in vital 1-0 win vs Wolfsburg and another attacking return away to Frankfurt in March.

His form has coincided with an upturn in Union’s fortunes.

His spectacular goal today stunned the sell-out Alte Forsterei crowd into silence, and then into delirium.

It was a Goal of the Season contender and deserved to win a game, let alone one point.

GGFN | Oscar O’Mara