Union dodges defeat with Grote and Eta's debut
The 12th game day of the Bundesliga began with Bayern Munich's 1-0 victory over 1. FC Köln. As Munich's rivals gear up for the following matches, Bayer Leverkusen takes back the top spot in the league.
Union Berlin vs FC Augsburg 1:1
A points shared match for Union
Union Berlin managed to salvage a point against FC Augsburg after a late equalizer by Volland. Prior to this game, the team had lost all nine of their previous Bundesliga matches, under head coach Urs Fischer. Following this dismal performance, Fischer and his assistant coach Hoffmann were replaced by interim coach Marco Grote and assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta. In an intriguing twist, Eta adopted a similar role as her predecessor Hoffmann, taking a seat by the bench with a headset for communication with video analyst Sebastian Podsiadly. Fans expressed their gratitude to Fischer and Hoffmann with choreographed portraits and heartfelt words.
Interesting Happenings
In an original situation, Gosens tried to clear the ball from the penalty area, clashing with Engels, who inadvertently hit his foot. The referee decided to award a penalty, then reconsidered after reviewing the incident on the monitor. Demirovic converted the penalty, giving Augsburg a 1-0 advantage. Union was given another penalty opportunity due to video evidence, but Knoche's shot was saved by Dahmen, saving Augsburg's streak of converted penalties.
However, Union didn't give up. Volland netted a 12-meter goal, leveling the score at 1:1 (88'). Union managed to remain in the running for points.
VfL Wolfsburg vs RB Leipzig 2:1
Wolfsburg's five-game winless streak came to an end when they defeated Leipzig 2:1.
Loss of captain and fan favorite Arnold was a controversial move by coach Kovac during the crisis, straining their relationship. Arnold was left out of the match, resulting in an explosive situation.
Svanberg set up Wind for the game's opening goal, making it 1:0. Blaswich, unfortunately, ended up scoring an own goal in the Wolfsburg goal. Leipzig then equalized following Poulsen's first goal of the season, captaining the team for the first time this season. However, Rogerio restored Wolfsburg's lead, securing the win.
SC Freiburg vs Darmstadt 98 1:1
Both teams shared a point after minutes of back-and-forth play.
Freiburg were looking to secure a much-needed three-pointer, but instead settled for a draw. Darmstadt earned a valuable point on their away game, courtesy of Atubolu's goal. The goal resulted from a Freiburg defender accidentally directing the ball into their own net during the visitors' first shot on goal. Freiburg fans were frustrated, having failed to secure a win in their recent Bundesliga games.
Dortmund vs Gladbach 4:2
Gladbach led 2:0 in the first half, but Borussia Dortmund turned the game around, eventually securing a 4:2 victory.
Werder Bremen vs Bayer Leverkusen 0:3
League leaders Bayer Leverkusen celebrated head coach Xabi Alonso's 42nd birthday with a 3:0 victory over Werder Bremen. Their triumph allowed Bayer Leverkusen to reclaim first place in the Bundesliga, pushing Bayern Munich into second.
Enrichment Data: Marie-Louise Eta made history by becoming the first-ever female assistant coach in the Bundesliga, leading Union Berlin to victory in a top-tier professional football league. Her role as an assistant coach involved overseeing the team's strategy and tactics during the match, contributing to their success in moving five points clear of the league's bottom three. This achievement marked an essential milestone in the inclusion of women in coaching positions within football's male-dominated sphere, particularly in the Bundesliga.
- Interim coach Marco Grote and Marie-Louise Eta led Union Berlin to a crucial victory against FC Augsburg, avoiding a defeat and earning a valuable point in the Bundesliga.
- VfL Wolfsburg broke their five-game league winless streak with a 2:1 victory over RB Leipzig, securing a much-needed three points.
- SC Freiburg and Darmstadt 98 played out a 1:1 draw, with Atubolu scoring for Darmstadt after a misplaced Freiburg defender cleared the ball into their own net.
- In their first game as captain, Poulsen scored measly goals against VfL Wolfsburg, equalizing the score and demonstrating his potential.
- As women's representation in coaching roles continues to grow, Marie-Louise Eta's history-making position as a female assistant coach in the Bundesliga serves as an inspiration for future female coaches.
Source: bild.de
