Bundesliga: Union Berlin Stun Bayern Munich with Late Equalizer in 1-1 Draw

Bayern Munich's dominance in the Bundesliga is halted as they are held to a 1-1 draw by Union Berlin, with Benedict Hollerbach's late equalizer canceling out Leroy Sane's goal, leaving Bayern's lead at the top provisional.

Bayern Munich's dominance in the Bundesliga was halted as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Union Berlin at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei. The result has breathed new life into the title race, with Bayern's lead at the top now vulnerable to being overturned. Union Berlin, meanwhile, have continued their impressive record at home, avoiding defeat in five of their six matches against the current top six.

Union Berlin employed a defensive strategy against Bayern Munich, opting to sit back and absorb pressure rather than taking the initiative. This approach proved effective in the early stages, with Bayern restricted to a solitary wayward long-range effort from Dayot Upamecano in the opening 20 minutes. As the half progressed, Bayern began to create more opportunities, with Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry both coming close to scoring.

Despite Bayern's growing pressure, Union Berlin made it to the break without conceding a goal. Frederik Ronnow was called into action for the first time just before half-time, making a save from Serge Gnabry's effort. The second half began with Harry Kane being denied from a free-kick, and it was clear that Union Berlin had been instructed to adopt a more aggressive approach by their manager, Steffen Baumgart.

Union Berlin's first significant opportunity arrived just before the hour mark, as they began to pose a greater threat to Bayern's goal. The match was poised for a dramatic conclusion, with both teams seeking to claim all three points. However, the ultimate outcome was a share of the spoils, as Union Berlin secured a valuable 1-1 draw against the Bundesliga leaders.

Bayern Munich's defense was put to the test as Josip Juranovic launched a counter-attack down the right flank, creating space to unleash a powerful shot towards the near post. However, stand-in goalkeeper Jonas Urbig was equal to the task, batting the ball away to prevent Union Berlin from taking a surprise lead.

The points are shared in the capital. ⚖️#FCBayern #MiaSanMia | #FCUFCB pic.twitter.com/GAnGKMn7J3

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) March 15, 2025

The tension was palpable as Union Berlin continued to press, causing concern for Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany. However, the pressure was alleviated with 15 minutes remaining, as Michael Olise spotted Josip Stanisic's underlapping run. Stanisic played the ball across the area, allowing Leroy Sane to nip in front of Jeong Woo-yeong and finish into the bottom left corner, giving Bayern Munich the lead.

Union Berlin refused to give up, swiftly transitioning to attack and stunningly restoring parity less than 10 minutes later. Juranovic's cross initially seemed harmless, but Urbig's decision to parry the ball proved costly. Benedict Hollerbach seized the opportunity, arriving to prod the ball home and level the score.

Although Bayern Munich were unable to regain the lead in the closing stages, they provisionally extended their advantage at the top of the table to nine points clear of Bayer Leverkusen. However, this lead could be reduced to six points if Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen side secures a win against Stuttgart on Sunday.

Despite failing to record a second consecutive Bundesliga win for the first time since October, Union Berlin can take pride in this result, which edges them further away from the relegation zone. The draw serves as a testament to the team's resilience and determination, as they continue to battle for survival in the Bundesliga.