Spiderman Sheraldo Becker has brought 1. FC Union Berlin a good deal closer to the Champions League. The outstanding striker contributed two goals and two assists to the spectacular 4-2 (3-0) victory of the Berlin Bundesliga club against pursuers SC Freiburg. In addition to Becker, who scored in the 36th and 38th minutes and pulled a Spiderman mask over his head after his first goal, Kevin Behrens (5th minute) and Aissa Laidouni (80th) were also successful for Union. Manuel Gulde (56') and Vincenzo Grifo (70'/foul penalty) scored for Freiburg, who were only lively after the break.
In the table, the Berliners jumped to third place, at least until Sunday - the Freiburgers, disappointed in the first half, are now three points and with the clearly worse goal difference behind Union in fifth place. Only the top four teams in the table qualify for the Champions League.
In the stadium An der Alten Försterei, the 22,012 spectators cheered on two players even before the start of the game. Berlin right-back Christopher Trimmel made his 300th competitive appearance for Union. Germany international Christian Günter made his 300th Bundesliga appearance for Freiburg – a mark that no player had ever broken in the club's history.
However, Günter did not have much to celebrate. After just five minutes, Behrens scored flat into the corner after Becker's assist to give Union the lead. Offensively, Freiburg never managed to surprise the usual deep-staggered Berliners in the first half. Characteristic of the harmless guests was an advance by Kiliann Sildillia, who hit a cross unchallenged into the sideline after just over 20 minutes. On the sidelines, SC coach Christian Streich crossed his arms.
Streich reacts after the break
It took 28 minutes for the first SC chance, a header from Lukas Kübler deflected Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow over the bar. On the other hand, the Becker show followed. First, he completed a Union counterattack to make it 2-0, then put on the Spiderman mask and consequently received the yellow card. Then he drove the ball powerfully into the short corner from 15 meters to make it 3-0. Both assists were provided by central defender Robin Knoche.
After the change of sides, Streich made three changes: Noah Weißhaupt came in for Günter (46th), Kenneth Schmidt for Sildillia and Michael Gregoritsch for Yannik Keitel (both 53rd). And suddenly, something happened in the Freiburg game, which had been so tired before. First Gulde headed the ball in after a Grifo corner, then Grifo converted a penalty. Earlier, Danilho Doekhi had fouled Roland Sallai, who came on as a substitute for the injured Kübler in the first half.
Freiburg now seemed to be on it, fighting for the equaliser - but once again Becker sprinted up and away on a counterattack and thoughtfully laid across to Laidouni, who was running along, the rest was a formality: 4:2.
Matthias Ginter could have brought the tireless visitors close again, but only hit the crossbar from close range. The Berliners clarified the additional margin on the line. It only got really loud once during regular time: When Spiderman Becker came on as a substitute after a performance that should be ripe for the Champions League.