Borussia Dortmund secured a 3-0 victory over 1. FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga, reducing their gap to leaders Bayern Munich to eight points. The visitors displayed a gritty performance and capitalized on Bayern's slip. Union remains winless this year.
Borussia Dortmund capitalized on Bayern Munich's surprise slip by defeating 1. FC Union Berlin 3-0 (1-0) in the Bundesliga, narrowing the gap to the league leaders to eight points. The BVB now sits in second place and remains unbeaten in their last 12 league matches. Four days after their Champions League loss to Tottenham Hotspur, the visitors showed grit in Berlin-Köpenick amid sub-zero temperatures, though room for improvement in play persists.
In front of 22,012 fans at the sold-out Stadion An der Alten Försterei, captain Emre Can opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after Serhou Guirassy was fouled by Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow. It was Can's 12th Bundesliga penalty. Former Union player Nico Schlotterbeck headed in the second goal in the 53rd minute from a Julian Ryerson corner. Maximilian Beier sealed the 3-0 in the 84th minute.
Coach Niko Kovač had demanded basic virtues like running and tackling intensity before the match: "First comes that, then the football," said the 54-year-old. The Dortmund side delivered without dazzling technically. Union had the first chance: Andrej Ilic's header was saved by keeper Gregor Kobel (6th minute). The hosts, celebrating their 60th anniversary and extending captain Christopher Trimmel's contract, greeted fans with choreography. Yet, their five-game unbeaten run ended; Union sits comfortably mid-table but winless in 2025.
Bayern had lost 1-2 to Augsburg, their first league defeat of the season. Kovač rates the title chances against Munich as minimal. Dortmund now has 12 wins in 19 games.
