Union Berlin have always been a side that have drawn interest from many fans due to the way the club has been run, and many would suggest that watching Union Berlin is a must when in the capital.
Watching Union Berlin is a Must When in the Capital
Eisern Union
Now in the top flight of German football for the first time in their history, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei hosted a lively encounter against Bayer Leverkusen.
The stadium itself is worth the visit alone. Built by the fans at a time that the club was languishing in the lower leagues and with very little money, it sits in a small forested area in Köpernik. There is one main stand which is seated and includes boxes and corporate areas, while the other three sides are full-on terracing that goes around the rest of the way.
Against Leverkusen, like most home games, the terraces were full to the brim and the Ultras, something also popular in German football culture, were leading the chants and songs from behind the goal, creating a hostile yet lively atmosphere.
At the other end, Leverkusen replied and waved their flags and tried to out-sing the noisy hosts. Their attention was founded when a small section pulled out pyrotechnics, as a result, which later halted the match for a few minutes in the second half.
A 3-2 Defeat But the Result Was Irrelevant
On the pitch, it was as you’d expect from a newly promoted side that headed into the game with six home wins from ten – which included victories over Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach – and had just come off the back of just their second away win of the season. They looked confident but didn’t necessarily have some of the class you would expect from the top tier of German football.
That was until just 15 minutes in and the place erupted. Christian Gentner smashed home from just outside the box to send the terraces bouncing.
But Leverkusen, who had beaten Dortmund the week before, pulled one back midway through the half before Moussa Diaby appeared to win the game for the hosts in the 83rd minute.
The was until Marius Bülter picked the ball up and curled a sensation equaliser into the top corner five minutes later. A draw would have been a fair result, but three minutes into seven added on, Leverkusen restored their lead and saw out the game.
Undeterred by the result, the entire home section stayed behind, applauded and sang the players off the field, who themselves spent a good five minutes in front of the Ultras to show their appreciation.
The match was great, the atmosphere was electric, but the city and the support for Union is another level. If you plan to visit Berlin, Union Berlin is a club you should certainly go and watch.
