Xabi Alonso made three changes to the side that beat Red Bull Salzburg 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League during the week. Lukas Hradecky returned in goal for Matej Kovar, while Arthur and Aleix Garcia came in for Exequiel Palacios and Florian Wirtz. Nordi Mukiele also returned to the squad following his injury.
The Werkself made the perfect start as a long ball from Jonathan Tah opened up the pitch for Alejandro Grimaldo to run onto and square for Frimpong, who simply had to slot past Frederik Ronnow unchallenged with only 111 seconds played. Bayer 04 controlled proceedings after that, although the hosts weren’t afraid to get stuck in, with Frimpong in particular feeling the effects of some of their challenges in his more attacking winger role. Union eventually managed to hit back just before the half-hour mark when Benedict Hollerbach got through the defence and set up Jeong to turn in off the inside of the far post. Schick later fired an effort into the side netting as it remained all square at the break in Köpenick.
The Czech striker was again involved after the restart but saw his shot blocked. With an hour gone, Alonso introduced Wirtz and Palacios for Garcia and Robert Andrich. It proved a telling change as Wirtz delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, which Schick simply had to meet with his chest to turn the ball in at the far post and restore the Leverkusen lead. It was also his 48th Bundesliga goal for the Werkself on his 100th appearance, which is a new club record in a century of games, beating the 47 achieved by Ulf Kirsten.
Nathan Tella and Mukiele were also brought on for Frimpong and Arthur in the closing stages as Union mounted a second attempt to draw level, but there were no moments of real danger as the Werkself secured a deserved three points in the capital.
Bayer 04 are in DFB Pokal action on Tuesday as they continue their title defence in the round of 16 away at Bayern Munich (kick-off: 8.45pm CET). They then host St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday (3.30pm).
Match stats:
Union Berlin: Ronnow – Doekhi, Vogt, Querfeld (Volland 85') – Trimmel (Juranovic 79'), Kemlein, Khedira (Schäfer 79'), Rothe – Jeong (Skov 79'), Hollerbach – Skarke (Vertessen 68')
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Arthur (Mukiele 79'), Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong (Tella 79'), Xhaka, Andrich (Palacios 58'), Garcia (Wirtz 58'), Grimaldo – Schick
Goals: 0-1 Frimpong (2'), 1-1 Hollerbach (29'), 1-2 Schick (71')
Referee: Christian Dingert
Yellow cards: Rothe, Querfeld, Trimmel – Andrich, Mukiele
Attendance: 22,012 (sold out) at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei
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