Union Berlin 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings: Rani Khedira Strikes Decider as Hosts Grab Competitive Win | Bundesliga

FC Union Berlin picked up a 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday. The result was a clear example of tactical discipline overcoming ball possession. In this article, let's discuss Union Berlin vs Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings from the German clash.

The home side took the lead in the 28th minute with a well-worked goal. Aljoscha Kemlein delivered a precise pass to team captain Rani Khedira, who calmly finished from the centre of the penalty area. The goal proved to be the decisive moment in an otherwise closely fought match.

Leverkusen controlled much of the possession but struggled to break through Union Berlin’s organised defence. The hosts remained compact and disciplined, limiting the visitors to long-range efforts and preventing clear scoring chances.

Despite sustained pressure from Leverkusen, Union Berlin successfully defended their lead until the final whistle. The strong defensive performance and efficient use of their opportunity ensured an important home victory for the Berlin side.

Union Berlin Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Check out Union Berlin player ratings from the match:

Goalkeeper

Frederik Rönnow - 7.0: A commanding presence in his box. We noticed he was decisive with his high claims, which really settled the nerves of his defence. He made a crucial save when called upon. His distribution wasn't perfect, losing possession a few times, but his primary job was done with authority. He looked confident throughout.

Defenders

Danilho Doekhi - 7.5: An absolute colossus at the back for Union. He was immense in the air, winning all of his aerial duels. From our perspective, he was a key reason Leverkusen's forwards had such a frustrating day. He made several important clearances and was a constant threat on set pieces himself. A top-tier defensive display.

Leopold Querfeld - 7.0: A very composed and mature performance from the defender. He was tidy in possession and read the game exceptionally well. His positioning was spot-on, allowing him to make three important clearances. He looked completely unfazed by Leverkusen's attack. A really solid outing.

Stanley Nsoki - 6.5: Had a bit of a mixed performance. He was aggressive, making five clearances and a vital interception. However, he picked up a very early yellow card which meant he had to walk a tightrope for the rest of the game. He also looked a bit shaky in possession sometimes, but overall his defensive contribution was positive.

Midfielders

Aljoscha Kemlein - 7.5: The creative spark for the decisive moment. He provided the assist for the winning goal with a perfectly weighted pass. What stood out to us was his vision to create that big chance. He battled hard in midfield and used the ball intelligently. A hugely influential performance.

Rani Khedira - 8.0: The match-winner and our highest-rated player. A true captain's performance, leading by example. He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned striker. Beyond the goal, he was a disruptive force in midfield, breaking up play constantly. He was simply immense.

Derrick Köhn - 7.0: A livewire down the left flank. He was a constant outlet for his team, creating two key chances for his teammates. We were impressed by his willingness to take players on and his energetic display. His final product could still be a bit more polished, but his work rate was phenomenal.

Forwards

Woo-yeong Jeong - 6.0: A tireless runner who put in a real shift for the team. He worked hard defensively to support his midfield. However, he was quiet on the attacking front and didn't offer much of a goal threat. A disciplined but ultimately ineffective performance in the final third.

András Schäfer - 7.5: An all-action display that caught our eye. He was everywhere, winning an incredible 75% of his duels and making crucial tackles. He drove forward with purpose, even forcing a good save from the keeper. He was a genuine bundle of energy and quality for his side.

Andrej Ilic - 5.5: A very difficult and frustrating afternoon for the striker. He was physically dominated by Leverkusen's defenders, losing the majority of his duels. He struggled to hold up the ball and link play, which starved him of service. The yellow card he picked up summed up his frustrating day.

Substitutes

Janik Haberer - 5.5: His game was cruelly cut short by an injury after just 11 minutes. In his brief time on the pitch, he managed to pick up a yellow card. It's impossible to give him a fair rating based on such a short cameo. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Manager

S. Baumgart - 8.0: His tactical plan was executed to perfection. He set his team up to be defensively solid and to hit on the break. They did exactly that. Conceding possession but never control, his side frustrated a more fancied opponent and took all three points. A tactical masterclass.

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs FC Union Berlin

Here are Beyer Leverkusen player ratings from the Bundesliga fixture.

Goalkeeper

Janis Blaswich - 6.0: He could do very little about the goal he conceded. He made one save during the match. What disappointed us was his distribution, which was quite poor and put his team under unnecessary pressure at times. An unremarkable day for the keeper.

Defenders

Loïc Badé - 6.5: A busy and solid performance from the defender. He made four clearances and won the majority of his duels. He was a strong presence at the back but was part of a unit that ultimately couldn't keep a clean sheet. A decent, if unspectacular, outing.

Robert Andrich - 5.0: A day to forget for the captain. His uncharacteristic error in the build-up led directly to Union Berlin's goal. That single moment of hesitation proved incredibly costly. While his passing was generally fine, the mistake overshadowed his entire performance. It was a tough one to watch.

Edmond Tapsoba - 6.0: A powerful physical presence, as always. He won a lot of his aerial battles. However, he also committed a couple of needless fouls and missed a golden opportunity to score with a header from a corner. A mixed bag of a performance from him.

Midfielders

Ezequiel Fernández - 6.0: Kept things ticking over in midfield with tidy passing. However, he offered very little in terms of attacking threat. He lost possession a few too many times under pressure. A safe but ultimately ineffective performance in a game that needed a spark.

Arthur - 6.5: A defensively diligent performance. His last-man tackle was a crucial intervention. He was secure in possession, rarely giving the ball away. However, he offered almost nothing going forward, which was a problem for a team chasing the game.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 6.5: One of the few Leverkusen players who looked like creating something. He created one chance and his set-piece delivery was a constant threat. But, he also lost possession ten times, which halted his team's momentum. A frustratingly inconsistent display.

Aleix García - 6.0: He was excellent at retaining possession, with a very high pass completion rate. However, he struggled to impose himself physically on the game, losing most of his duels. He was neat and tidy but lacked the bite needed in a physical contest like this one.

Forwards

Malik Tillman - 5.5: A really difficult game for the attacker. He lost possession an alarming 11 times and struggled to get into any dangerous positions. He looked off the pace and was completely nullified by the Union defence. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.0: Showed a few nice touches and was clever enough to draw a couple of fouls. However, he was largely anonymous in the final third. He failed to register a single shot, which is simply not good enough for a forward. He needed to be more involved.

Christian Kofane - 5.5: Almost completely invisible. With only nine touches in 50 minutes, he was a passenger in this game. He struggled to find space or get involved in the play at all. It was a surprise to see him last as long as he did on the pitch.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 5.5: His team had all the ball but no ideas. They looked predictable in attack and were unable to break down a well-drilled defensive unit. His failure to find a tactical solution to Union's low block was the story of the game for Leverkusen. A very frustrating afternoon for the Danish coach.