Union Berlin 0-4 RB Leipzig: Hosts pay tribute to lost fans on Bundesliga debut
Union Berlin organised the "finally there" campaign to remember supporters who had died
Union Berlin supporters raised tributes of late family and friends who could not be present to witness the club's debut Bundesliga appearance on Sunday.
The "finally there" campaign saw banners created from photos to be held aloft as the club hosted top-flight football for the first time.
Union lost 4-0 to RB Leipzig at the Stadion An der Alten Foersterei.
Fans also staged a 15-minute silent protest against the visitors' ownership by drinks manufacturer Red Bull.
Union supporters stayed silent from kick-off to express their opposition to Leipzig's model - one of the few exceptions to German football's rule which requires all Bundesliga clubs to have a 51% fan-owned majority.
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann said his side had prepared for the boycott and used it to their advantage.
"For a coach it isn't so bad at all - you can talk directly to your players. The boys knew that after 15 minutes it would get really loud - and the atmosphere was unbelievably good afterwards."
He added: "I would always wish that the fans would give it everything from the opening whistle as it's a great atmosphere here at Union - unbelievable."
The supporters have played an integral part in Union's journey to the top-flight, donating blood as part of a "Bleed for Union" campaign to raise funds for their struggling fourth-tier side in 2004 - as well as volunteering to help rebuild the club's stadium in 2008.
They became the first side to beat a Bundesliga club in the play-offs since 2012 as they overcame Stuttgart last season.
But they had no such success against Leipzig on Sunday as goals from Marcel Halstenberg, Marcel Sabitzer, Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku sealed a comfortable win.
Union Berlin tweeted to signal the start of their silent protest, which ended 15 minutes into the match
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Union Berlin
1Gikiewicz
28Trimmel
5Friedrich
31Schlotterbeck
25Lenz
21Prömel
30Andrich
20AbdullahiSubstituted forBeckerat 58'minutesBooked at 82mins
34GentnerSubstituted forUjahat 45'minutes
15Bülter
10AnderssonSubstituted forPolterat 69'minutes
Substitutes
3Subotic
8Mees
9Polter
11Ujah
14Reichel
24Schmiedebach
27Becker
32Ingvartsen
35Nicolas
RB Leipzig
1Gulácsi
22Mukiele
6Konaté
4Orban
16Klostermann
31DemmeSubstituted forLaimerat 62'minutes
44KamplSubstituted forForsbergat 73'minutes
23Halstenberg
7Sabitzer
9Poulsen
11WernerSubstituted forNkunkuat 65'minutes
Substitutes
3Saracchi
8Haidara
10Forsberg
13Ilsanker
18Nkunku
20Santos Carneiro Da Cunha
26Ampadu
27Laimer
28Mvogo
Referee:
Markus Schmidt
Attendance:
22,467
Match Stats
Home TeamUnion BerlinAway TeamRB Leipzig
Possession
Home36%
Away64%
Shots
Home13
Away14
Shots on Target
Home2
Away8
Corners
Home3
Away6
Fouls
Home14
Away7
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, 1. FC Union Berlin 0, RB Leipzig 4.
Full TimePosted at 90'+1'
Second Half ends, 1. FC Union Berlin 0, RB Leipzig 4.
Posted at 90'
Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Marius Bülter (1. FC Union Berlin).
Posted at 89'
Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Sebastian Polter (1. FC Union Berlin).
Posted at 86'
Attempt missed. Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Konrad Laimer following a corner.
Posted at 85'
Corner, RB Leipzig. Conceded by Rafal Gikiewicz.
Posted at 85'
Attempt saved. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcel Sabitzer with a headed pass.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Keven Schlotterbeck (1. FC Union Berlin).
Posted at 83'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 83'
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 82'
Delay in match because of an injury Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig).
BookingPosted at 82'
Sheraldo Becker (1. FC Union Berlin) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 82'
Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Sheraldo Becker (1. FC Union Berlin).
Posted at 81'
Offside, 1. FC Union Berlin. Anthony Ujah tries a through ball, but Sheraldo Becker is caught offside.
Posted at 80'
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Emil Forsberg.
Posted at 80'
Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Keven Schlotterbeck (1. FC Union Berlin).
Posted at 78'
Foul by Willi Orban (RB Leipzig).
Posted at 78'
Sebastian Polter (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Attempt missed. Sebastian Polter (1. FC Union Berlin) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sheraldo Becker.
Posted at 74'
Willi Orban (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Anthony Ujah (1. FC Union Berlin).
Posted at 73'
Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Marius Bülter (1. FC Union Berlin).
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, RB Leipzig. Emil Forsberg replaces Kevin Kampl.
Posted at 71'
Attempt missed. Anthony Ujah (1. FC Union Berlin) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Sebastian Polter replaces Sebastian Andersson.
Goal!Posted at 69'
Goal! 1. FC Union Berlin 0, RB Leipzig 4. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcel Sabitzer with a headed pass.
SubstitutionPosted at 65'
Substitution, RB Leipzig. Christopher Nkunku replaces Timo Werner.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).
Posted at 64'
Grischa Prömel (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 63'
Attempt saved. Robert Andrich (1. FC Union Berlin) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig).
Posted at 63'
Keven Schlotterbeck (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 63'
Attempt missed. Anthony Ujah (1. FC Union Berlin) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Robert Andrich.
Posted at 63'
Attempt missed. Robert Andrich (1. FC Union Berlin) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
SubstitutionPosted at 62'
Substitution, RB Leipzig. Konrad Laimer replaces Diego Demme.
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goal
Source: bbc.com
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