Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt opened the Bundesliga’s 21st matchday with a 1‑1 draw. For Frankfurt it was a special occasion – the hosting side welcomed new head coach Albert Riera at the club’s locker room. The capital’s team had little reason to celebrate earlier in the season and was eager to pick up points against the ninth‑placed side.
The match began cautiously. From the kickoff Frankfurt controlled the possession, but did not generate clear goal opportunities. In the early minutes the visitors dominated with long passing moves, while Union Berlin initially lurked in the counter‑attack. Soon after, the Berlin supporters caused a stir with fireworks on the stands, which led to brief interruptions and slowed the pace of the game.
Despite Frankfurt’s dominant possession, very few dangerous chances materialised in front of Union’s goal. The visitors kept pressing down the flanks, yet most of their attacks fizzled just outside the box. Union utilised the wings but stayed largely harmless. Just before halftime, Kemlein had the biggest opportunity, firing a long‑range shot that Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos comfortably denied.
Defensively Union were disciplined and opted for occasional forward pushes. Frankfurt linked well on the left side, but the finishing or timing in the penalty area was often lacking. The first half ended goalless; although Frankfurt boasted over 70 % possession, decisive actions remained elusive.
In the second half Frankfurt showed more initiative. Their ball control stayed high and the visitors looked for gaps in Union’s defense. While chances from Oscar Höjlund and Kalimuendo were unused, Union defended skillfully. On a brighter note, set‑pieces and long‑range shots sparked some excitement, but the score stayed even until the 84th minute.
Then the drama unfolded: Nathaniel Brown, after a build‑up play, put Frankfurt ahead 1‑0. He briefly required treatment but was able to continue playing despite some wobbling. Just two minutes later, Frankfurt’s Oscar Höjlund was shown a red card, and Union’s Leopold Querfeld calmly converted a penalty to level the game.
The draw propelled Frankfurt up to seventh place, while Union remained ninth.