Union Berlin dreams: overtaking Bayern. And Haller returns to goal after the tumor

Fourth victory in a row and Bayern overtaken, Berliners first at least for one night. The Dortmund forward, who recovered from testicular cancer after two operations, scored in the 5-1 win over Freiburg

First. At least for one night. Union Berlin fans dream, finding themselves where they have never been. The Berliners also took the 3 points on matchday 19 of the championship, winning for the fourth time in a row (5 out of 5 in 2023, including the cup). Thus bypassed Bayern Munich, who will challenge Wolfsburg away on Sunday afternoon.

THE RANKING

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After 19 rounds Union has 39 points, so they have won more than 2 points per match. Against Mainz, the decisive goal (that of 2-1) was scored by Jordan Siebatcheu in the 84th minute: the French-American had entered the field a few minutes earlier, precisely to respond to the visitors’ equalizer. In the next round Union will visit Leipzig, currently fourth in the table: it will be a top-level clash between two sides from the old East Germany. Unthinkable a few years ago.

HISTORY

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This round of the championship also puts an end to the sufferings of Sebastien Haller. The striker, who moved from Ajax to Dortmund in the summer (the yellow and blacks’ second most expensive signing ever), was sidelined for months due to testicular cancer which forced him to have two operations. His first yellow and black goal curiously came on World Cancer Day. Against Freiburg, in the 51st minute, he headed in the goal to make it 3-1 (a match later won 5-1). A network to restart. A goal to hook Bayern into second place in the standings. With the Bavarians who, however, still have to play. But there will be many cheering them on, from Dortmund to Berlin.