Union Berlin Holds Bayern Munich to a Draw in Thrilling Encounter

Despite Bayern Munich’s flawless start to the 2025-26 season, Union Berlin took the initiative from the outset. The hosts believed they had taken the lead early on when Ilyas Ansah headed the ball into the net after a flick from Tom Rothe. However, the excitement was short-lived as VAR ruled Ansah offside, silencing the Alte Forsterei crowd.

Bayern, known for their explosive performances, faced a determined Union side that fought tenaciously for every loose ball, frustrating Vincent Kompany’s team. Although the Bavarians dominated possession, they struggled to create significant goal-scoring opportunities.

Union Berlin capitalized on their pressure in the 27th minute. After failing to clear a corner from Janik Harberer, the ball fell to Doekhi at the edge of the box. His mis-hit shot managed to evade a surprisingly weak save from Manuel Neuer, putting Union ahead.

Just ten minutes later, Bayern equalized with their first shot on target. Luis Diaz skillfully retrieved an overhit pass from Josip Stanisic and, in one fluid motion, turned past a defender before firing a powerful shot into the roof of Fredrik Ronnow’s net from an acute angle.

Union maintained their intensity after the halftime break, pressing their illustrious opponents and pushing forward, though clear chances were hard to come by. Michael Olise came close to scoring on the hour mark, but his low effort was comfortably saved by Ronnow.

As the match progressed, Union started to sit deeper, absorbing Bayern’s pressure without conceding. The wing-backs, including Rothe and Harberer, along with their substitutes, Josip Juranovic and Derrick Kohn, effectively contained Olise and Diaz, compelling Bayern to recycle possession without breaching their steadfast defense.

Union’s efforts were rewarded late in the game when Olise fouled Kohn during a counterattack. The subsequent free kick fell to Doekhi, who found the net again, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead in the final ten minutes.

Bayern responded with an all-out offensive effort, which eventually yielded results. Harry Kane, having had a quiet match, headed home a cross from Oliver Bischof deep into injury time. This marked the first instance in the new season that Kompany’s side failed to secure a victory, a significant achievement for Steffen Baumgart and his resilient players.

In a game that featured notable talents like Kane, Olise, and Diaz, few would have predicted that Doekhi would emerge as the standout scorer. Nevertheless, the Dutch defender has gained a reputation in Berlin for netting crucial goals from set pieces, and his second effort would have been the highlight of the match, had it not been overshadowed by Kane’s late equalizer.

Neuer was notably under scrutiny, as his reputation as a leading modern goalkeeper hinges on his reliability. The fact that he allowed such a soft shot to slip past him is uncharacteristic and cost Bayern their perfect start to the season.