Surprise in Berlin: Union Defeats Bayer Leverkusen After Robert Andrich's Costly Error

Saturday's series of matches in the German top flight brought an end to Union Berlin's dreadful run. The capital club, which hadn't won in seven matches, defeated favored Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 at home. The only goal came after a glaring individual error by Robert Andrich, who lost his bearings in his own penalty area, allowing Rani Khedira to finish the move effectively. For Andrich, a former player of the "Eisernen," the return to the Alte Försterei proved exceptionally painful, as he himself admitted in post-match interviews, taking full responsibility for the result. The Stadion An der Alten Försterei (Old Forester's Lodge), where Union Berlin plays, is unique in the Bundesliga – a significant portion of the stands are standing areas, and the club's fans actively participated in its renovation in 2008, volunteering their labor for the modernization of the facility. Simultaneously in Leipzig, an exciting clash between RB and Borussia Dortmund ended in a draw. The most contentious moment came late in the match when Karim Adeyemi went down in the penalty area after a challenge from Castello Lukeba. Despite protests from the BVB coaching staff, the referee did not award a penalty, which infuriated coach Niko Kovac and sporting director Sebastian Kehl. Kovac, referencing his youth spent on the mat, compared the Leipzig defender's play to a judo technique, calling the lack of a whistle a clear error of the VAR system. This draw complicates the situation for both teams in the race for top positions in the table. „Das ist eine Sichel, das ist ein Feger. Das ist eine Fehlentscheidung. Er trifft ihn ja.” (That's a sickle, that's a sweep. That's a wrong decision. He clearly hits him.) — Niko Kovac In the women's Bundesliga, the North Derby drew attention. The match between Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen, played at the prestigious Volksparkstadion in front of over 12,000 spectators, ended 1-1. Unusually for a match of this caliber, the referee awarded as many as three penalties, two of which were converted into goals by Sophie Hillebrand and Larissa Mühlhaus. Werder thereby maintained sixth place, while HSV women's team still has to fight to distance themselves from the relegation zone.