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2022-23 German Bundesliga
  • Benjamin Henrichs (24')
  • Janik Haberer (61')
  • Robin Knoche (72' PEN)

Union battle back to win at Leipzig and stay on Bayern's heels

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Union Berlin takes down Leipzig to continue Bayern chase (2:24)

Union Berlin comes from behind to beat RB Leipzig and stay hot on the tail of Bayern Munich. (2:24)

Union Berlin fought back with two goals in 11 minutes to battle to a 2-1 win over hosts RB Leipzig on Saturday and stay on the heels of league leaders Bayern Munich as they stretched their perfect start to the year to five consecutive Bundesliga wins.

Goals from Janik Haberer and Robin Knoche in the second half lifted Union to 42 points in second place, one behind Bayern.

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Leipzig's first league defeat since September saw them drop to fifth on 36.

Yet it had started well for Leipzig who went in front thanks to Benjamin Henrichs' 25-metre strike in the 24th minute.

Leipzig, who face Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 on Feb. 22, had the better chances in the first half but Union levelled in the 61st minute with an unstoppable volley from Haberer.

Things got even worse for the hosts 11 minutes later when Union were awarded a penalty for a handball and Knoche thundered in his spot kick to put the visitors in front.

Substitute Yussuf Poulsen almost instantly breathed new life into Leipzig, sliding into the box in the 78th minute to flick the ball into the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside.

Union desperately hung on for the win despite immense pressure from Leipzig who had two golden chances in the eight minutes of stoppage time.

German Bundesliga Standings

POS Team GP GD PTS
1 Bayern Munich 34 +54 71
2 Borussia Dortmund 34 +39 71
3 RB Leipzig 34 +23 66
4 1. FC Union Berlin 34 +13 62
5 SC Freiburg 34 +7 59
6 Bayer Leverkusen 34 +8 50
7 Eintracht Frankfurt 34 +6 50
8 VfL Wolfsburg 34 +9 49
9 Mainz 34 -1 46
10 Borussia Monchengladbach 34 -3 43
11 FC Cologne 34 -5 42
12 TSG Hoffenheim 34 -9 36
13 Werder Bremen 34 -13 36
14 VfL Bochum 34 -32 35
15 FC Augsburg 34 -21 34
16 VfB Stuttgart 34 -12 33
17 Schalke 04 34 -36 31
18 Hertha Berlin 34 -27 29