Eintracht celebrates at the Millerntor
Bayern talent meets: Union loses on Baumgart’s debut
Updated January 11, 2025 – 5:45 p.mReading time: 5 min.
Steffen Baumgart lost his first game as coach of Union Berlin – also because of a player on loan from Bayern. Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt was able to score three points against a newly promoted team.
On his debut as coach of Union Berlin, Steffen Baumgart suffered a devastating defeat. His team lost the away game at 1. FC Heidenheim 0:2 (0:1). Bayern talent Frans Krätzig, who was loaned to FCH by Munich just a few days ago, took the lead after 17 minutes. Bitter for Union: Shortly before half-time, defender Tom Rothe was shown a red card after an emergency stop (37th minute).
When they were outnumbered, the “Iron” were no longer able to equalize – on the contrary. Adrian Beck increased shortly before the end for the hosts (83rd), who gained breathing room in the relegation battle with the win.
At the same time, Eintracht Frankfurt celebrated a 1-0 win against newly promoted FC St. Pauli. Ex-Hamburg player Omar Marmoush scored the goal of the day in the first half (32′). It may have been the Egyptian’s last goal for the Hessians. Marmoush is being intensively courted by England’s champions Manchester City. A million-dollar transfer could soon take place.
SC Freiburg defeated Holstein Kiel 3:2 (2:0) in front of their home crowd. After an own goal from Kiel professional Nicolai Remberg (23rd), Christian Günther increased the score with a free kick before the break (38th). Vincenzo Grifo scored in the second period to make it 3-0 (74th).
Kiel threw everything forward again and was almost rewarded for it. Phil Harres brought the “Storks” closer again with a brace (85th/90th). But it shouldn’t be enough for more.
Mainz 05 defeated VfL Bochum 2-0 (1-0). National player Jonathan Burkardt scored his eleventh and twelfth goals of the season (23rd/69th). VfL Wolfsburg achieved a narrow away win in Hoffenheim. Mohammed Amoura headed the “Wolves” to a 1-0 win (29th) and thus three points.
After a first chance by Benedict Hollerbach (6th), FCH goalkeeper Kevin Müller just managed to direct a shot from Jordan (8th) onto the crossbar. A corner was followed by the next opportunity from Robert Skov (16th), who was too hesitant to take his header.
In return, Heidenheim’s lead fell out of the blue when Krätzig took advantage of the home team’s first shot on goal from the backcourt after a clever pass from Leonardo Scienza. A double of this attack almost made it 2-0, but Danilho Doekhi cleared in front of Heidenheim’s second winter entry Budu Zivzivadze (21′).
A little later the good Scienza had to leave the field injured, but the FCH remained the more active team. During a counterattack, Rothe came too late against Sirlord Conteh, who was substituted for Scienza, and was the last man to see red.
In the second half, Baumgart tried a few things with personnel and switched back to a three-man chain. But Heidenheim was closer to scoring the second goal than his team was to equalizing. Jan Schöppner (56′), for example, headed just wide of the goal.
Before the score was 2-0, a shot from Zivzivadze, who made a decent debut as a nine-man, was blocked by goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow. Substitute Beck used the rebound.
Omar Marmoush had two chances in the third minute, each of which was defused by St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Almost all of Frankfurt’s dangerous actions came from him.
Hamburg, who are still waiting for their second home win since promotion and are in a relegation battle, had a difficult time getting into the game, but then got better and better in their play and created opportunities.
The best was Morgan Guilavogui (23′), who maneuvered the ball over the goal from close range after a pass from Oladapo Afolayan. After conceding the goal, the hosts became stronger and pushed for the equalizer. Unfortunately for them: Carlo Boukhalfa hit the post in stoppage time.