FC Köln 0-1 FC Union Berlin: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of FC Köln 0-1 FC Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 20 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

FC Union Berlin secured a 1-0 victory over FC Köln. The match remained goalless for much of the contest, with FC Köln holding more possession but struggling to convert chances, while Union Berlin absorbed pressure and looked for counter opportunities. Early yellow cards disrupted the flow, including one for FC Köln’s Sebastian Sebulonsen in the 13th minute and another for Union Berlin’s Christopher Trimmel in the 40th, setting a tense tone that mirrored Köln’s recent run of draws and losses, including back-to-back defeats coming into this game.

The second half saw more action, with substitutions around the hour mark as both sides sought to shift momentum, but a red card for FC Köln’s Rav van den Berg in the 82nd minute left them with ten men. Union Berlin capitalised late, with András Schäfer scoring in the 90+1st minute to clinch the win, a result that builds on their recent form of two straight victories after a couple of losses. Köln’s inability to find the net extended their winless streak, highlighting ongoing issues in attack despite their possession dominance.

FC Köln controlled 62% of possession, which allowed them to dictate much of the play, but Union Berlin’s efficiency showed in their six corners compared to Köln’s three, suggesting more threat from set pieces. Both teams matched each other with 43 successful dribbles, indicating a balanced battle in individual duels, though Union Berlin’s five yellow cards against Köln’s two pointed to a more aggressive approach that nearly backfired but ultimately held firm.

Substitutions played a role in the late stages, with Köln making changes like Marius Bülter replacing Ragnar Ache at 58 minutes and double swaps at 68 minutes where Said El Mala came on for Jan Thielmann and Denis Huseinbasic for Tom Krauß, while Union Berlin introduced players such as Livan Burcu for Woo-yeong Jeong at 64 minutes and András Schäfer for Aljoscha Kemlein at 84 minutes, the latter proving decisive. Köln’s red card added to their disciplinary tally, shifting the game without any penalties or assists recorded to alter the narrative.

The game’s turning point arrived in the 82nd minute when FC Köln’s Rav van den Berg received a red card, reducing his side to ten men and opening the door for Union Berlin. Earlier, yellow cards for players like Sebastian Sebulonsen at 13 minutes and Tom Krauß at 49 minutes for Köln, plus Christopher Trimmel at 40 minutes and Aljoscha Kemlein at 80 minutes for Union Berlin, built tension without halting play entirely.

Union Berlin’s substitutions injected energy, with András Schäfer coming on at 84 minutes and scoring the winner in the 90+1st minute, while late bookings for Schäfer himself at 88 minutes and Josip Juranovic at 90+4 minutes reflected the frantic finish. Köln’s late changes, such as Linton Maina replacing Jakub Kamiński and Cenk Özkacar for Dominique Heintz at 86 minutes, came too late to recover from the numerical disadvantage.

FC Köln lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a focus on building from the back through partnerships in midfield involving players like Tom Krauß, who started but was later substituted for Denis Huseinbasic. The setup aimed to utilise width, as seen with Jakub Kamiński’s involvement before Linton Maina replaced him, while the defence held firm until Rav van den Berg’s red card disrupted the structure.

FC Union Berlin deployed a 3-4-2-1 shape, emphasising compact defending and quick transitions, with Christopher Trimmel providing leadership on the flank before Josip Juranovic replaced him. The system allowed for late impact from substitutes like András Schäfer, who entered for Aljoscha Kemlein and scored the decisive goal, supported by a solid backline that limited Köln’s threats.

Bwin’s Man of the Match was Frederik Rönnow, whose performance in goal for Union Berlin proved crucial in securing the clean sheet. He made two key saves to deny Köln’s attacks, along with one clearance and one punch to maintain control during pressure moments. His composure under fire, especially late on, underlined why he stood out in a tightly contested match.

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs FC Union Berlin (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs St. Pauli (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Werder Bremen (A)
• Loss: 3-4 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (H)

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs FC Köln (A)
• Win: 3-1 vs RB Leipzig (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs VfL Wolfsburg (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Heidenheim (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs St. Pauli (A)

FC Köln have just suffered a 0-1 home defeat to FC Union Berlin, extending their winless run to five league games with recent results including draws against St. Pauli and Werder Bremen, plus losses to Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt. Currently sitting 11th on 16 points, they face Heidenheim on 2026-01-10 at 14:30, with the opposition in 17th on 11 points, offering a chance to climb away from mid-table mediocrity and build some momentum.

FC Union Berlin have just claimed a 1-0 away win over FC Köln, marking their second straight league victory following a 3-1 success against RB Leipzig, after earlier defeats to VfL Wolfsburg and Heidenheim. Now in 8th place on 21 points, they take on ...

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