4-1: Werkself through to last 16

For the Werkself, all eyes will be on Dortmund on Sunday when former German international Stefan Effenberg draws the teams out for the Round of 16 ties on the ARD Sportschau programme staged at the Football Museum in Dortmund. The games involving the remaining 16 teams in the competition will be played shortly before Christmas on 19 and 20 December.

Union Berlin, who were knocked out of the DFB Cup last season in a penalty shoot-out away to Borussia Dortmund and on the back of a run of four wins on the bounce in the second division, came to the BayArena in confident mood. Heiko Herrlich warned his team to be fully focused and prepared and – in spite of several changes from the line-up against Borussia Mönchengladbach – he fielded a very strong side. Benjamin Henrichs played at right back and the recovered Charles Aránguiz played alongside Dominik Kohr in holding midfield with an advanced trio of Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt and Admir Mehmedi behind the lone striker Lucas Alario. Panos Retsos, captain Lars Bender, Julian Baumgartlinger, Kai Havertz and Leon Bailey, who all started at Gladbach, began the game on the bench, and Kevin Volland was sidelined with an injury.

Cautious start

Referee Frank Willenborg  started the match at the BayArena five minutes later than planned as the Berliners were delayed in reaching the stadium due to heavy traffic. The game got off to a lively start. The Werkself, playing all in red this time, camped in Union's half as they sought to break through a very tightly packed defence. Mehmedi had the first shot on goal with his effort just going wide of the top corner on nine minutes. When Mehmedi shot for a second time the visitors' keeper Daniel Mesenhöler succeeded in punching the ball away on 22 minutes. At the other end, the visitors suddenly benefited from Leverkusen losing the ball in the build-up and Steven Skrzybski just put his shot wide of the far post on 24 minutes. Mesenhöler pulled off a fine save to deny Alario's effort from close range after a cross by Wendell. Wendell then fired a shot over the bar on 28 minutes.

Brandt Opened the scoring

The Berliners defended well and with their solid organisation and confidence on the ball they showed why they are in the leading group in the second division. Bayer 04 needed to be patient and that finally paid off when Julian Brandt burst into the opposition box to shoot with the outside of his right foot into the top corner to open the scoring on 36 minutes. Shortly after that, there were three great chances in quick succession to double the lead when Mesenhöler first parried shots from Bellarabi and Mehmedi before the Switzerland international headed just wide of the upright on 40 minutes. On the stroke of half-time, the very lively Brandt ended a solo run with a shot from 20 yards out heading for the corner of the net but the Union goalkeeper managed to get his fingers to the ball. The narrow deficit at half-time was fair reflection on the performance of Union Berlin.

Alario FINDS THE BACK OF THE NET

There was one change at half-time for the hosts: Panos Retsos took the place of Sven Bender in central defence. The Werkself appeared not to be fully focused on the task at hand and the Berliners were quick to level.  Daube hit a low drive with his left foot into the corner of the net past the helpless Leno a minute after the restart. Union sensed their chance, threw themselves into challenges and suddenly had momentum on their side. But not for long: It was great the way Alario rose in the air to head the ball over Mesenhöler into the corner of the net to make it 2-1 on 58 minutes. And it was good that Leno then kept out an effort from Christopher Trimmel with his foot on the hour mark.

There was end-to end action at the BayArena with both teams looking to play on the front foot. Henrichs hit a shot to the near post as he was falling but Mesenhöler was again on hand to keep it out on 64 minutes. At the other end, Damir Kreilach hit a free kick against the bar on 66 minutes  – a narrow escape indeed. Heiko Herrlich sought to bring more stability to his team by bringing on skipper Lars Bender for Bellarabi on 68 minutes. Union then brought on striker Sebastian Polter on 70 minutes. Leno managed to turn his left-foot shot round the post on 77 minutes. Union were competing on equal terms. Kai Havertz replaced the goalscorer Alario with ten minutes to play.

Wendell from the penalty spot

The game was wrapped up just before the end of the 90 minutes: Wendell converted a penalty to make it 3-1 on 89 minutes after Mehmedi was fouled in the box. The brave Berliners were hit once again before the end: Stephan Fürstner was sent off for a second bookable offence on 91 minutes and Aránguiz scored from the resulting free-kick to make it 4-1 in the second minute of added time.  A deserved win for the Werkself against an impressive Union Berlin team who were soundly beaten in the end.

Bayer 04 are home again in the next fixture in the Bundesliga. Matchday ten brings the derby against FC Köln at the BayArena on Saturday 28 October with a 15.30 CET kick-off.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Tah, S. Bender (Retsos 46'), Wendell – Kohr, Aránguiz – Bellarabi (L. Bender 69'), Mehmedi, Brandt – Alario (Havertz 80')

Union Berlin: Mesenhöler – Trimmel, Torrejon, Parensen, Pedersen (Kurzweg 42.') – Daube (Hartel 62'), Fürstner – Skrzybski, Kreilach, Hedlund – Hosiner (Polter 70')
Goals: 1-0 Brandt (36'), 1-1 Daube (46'), 2-1 Alario (58'), 3-1 Wendell (pen. 89'), 4-1 Aránguiz (90+2')
Referee: Willenborg (Osnabrück)
Booked: Retsos – Polter

Sent off: Fürstner (90+1')
Attendance: 24,326