Bundesliga
1:30 p.mMay 2, 2026
Regular season – 32
An der Alten Försterei Stadium
Referee: Daniel Schlager, Germany
Union Berlin
1. FC Cologne
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
1.24
Expected Goals (xG)
1.71
-1.04
Prevented goals
-1.04
Passing by
351 (77%)
Accurate passes
248 (75%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
25
G
Carl Klaus
7.2
34
d
Stanley Sword
7.2
d
Diogo Leite
34′ Unsportsmanlike conduct
5
d
Danilo Doekhi
6.3
M
Tom Alexander Rothe
73′
6
M
Aljoscha Kemlein
6.3
8
M
Rani Khedira (C)
6.3
13
M
András Schaefer
7.2
18
M
Josip Juranović
6.7
10
F
Ilyas Ansah
5.9
7
F
Oliver Burke
6.9
Bundesliga classification – Bundesliga
Qualification/Relegation
- Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- Conference League Standings
- Relegation Playoffs
- descent
The Union Berlin and the 1. FC Köln shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, with final drama defining a game that saw both teams fighting for three points.
Union Berlin welcomed the 1. FC Köln at home on May 2 with both teams fighting for Bundesliga survival. The hosts took 13th place with 32 points from 31 games, while Köln took 14th place with 31 points. Both clubs needed wins to move away from the relegation zone, setting the stage for an intense encounter.
Union Berlin struck first through Marius Bülter in the 33rd minute. The forward took a chance inside the box and fired past the Köln keeper. The home side controlled the early exchanges, dominating possession with 58 percent of the ball in the first half.
Said El Mala doubled Union’s lead in the 61st minute. The midfielder found space and converted clinically to put the home side seemingly in control. The Union looked to be heading for a crucial three points with their attacking play creating problems for the Köln defence.
However, Köln refused to give up. Tom Alexander Rothe pulled one back in the 73rd minute with a fine finish. The away side suddenly found momentum, pushing forward with renewed intensity as the Union’s grip on the game loosened.
The drama intensified in the closing stages. Livan Burcu equalized for Köln in the 89th minute with a clinical strike. The substitute had barely stepped onto the pitch before he made an immediate impact, leaving the visiting fans elated.
Union pressed for a winner in the closing moments, but Köln held firm. The match ended in a tie despite the Union’s territorial dominance throughout the match. The Union created more chances overall with 13 shots in total compared to Köln’s eight.
The stats told the story of two hard-fought teams. The Union registered 4 shots on target to Köln’s 2, while the hosts completed 351 accurate passes from a total of 454 attempts. Köln showed resilience with an expected goal figure of 1.71 compared to Union’s 1.24, suggesting they made their chances count.
Both teams offered committed performances. Said El Mala scored 7.9 for Union, while Rothe matched it for Köln. Diogo Leite anchored Köln’s defense with three tackles and a 7.6 rating in 97 minutes.
The draw left both sides with work to do in their battle for survival. Union remain in 13th place with 33 points from 32 games, while Köln are in 14th place with 32 points from the same number of games. Neither team can afford to drop any more points as the season enters the final stretch.
