Matchday 16 Recap: 1. FC Magdeburg 1 - 1 1. FC Union Berlin

Magdeburg: Brunst; Müller, Erdmann, Schäfer; Bülter, Laprevotte, Preißinger (Weil), Niemeyer (Costly); Türpitz (Butzen); Beck, Lohkemper

Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Hübner, Friedrich, Lenz; Schmiedebach, Kroos (Polter), Zulj; Abdullahi (Gogia), Polter, Mees (Hartel)

Goals:

Magdeburg: Beck - 39
Union Berlin: Gogia - 65

Welcome back, Gogia! source: Union Berlin

Union Berlin escaped Magdeburg with only a point on Sunday -- and they were lucky to do so. Despite the home side sitting in 16th place in the table, they looked to be the better side for the majority of the game, and if it weren’t for the welcome return of Akaki Gogia’s scoring boots (he seemed to have misplaced them for a bit), Union’s unbeaten run in the league would have come to an altogether inglorious end.

Urs Fischer always talks up the opponents in his pre-match press conferences, so it was no surprise to hear him praise Magdeburg despite their lowly place in the table and note that Union would have to treat them with respect in order to succeed. What was a surprise was the extent to which he was right.

Union lined up in their usual 4-3-3, with two changes from the previous game against Darmstadt: Christopher Lenz slotted in at left back for the injured Ken Reichel, while Robert Zulj returned to the midfield in place of the injured Grischa Prömel. In a somewhat surprising decision (at least to me), Sebastian Andersson retained his spot at the head of the forward trio, likely as a reward for his brace the last time out; Sebastian Polter remained on the bench.

Meanwhile, Magdeburg lined up in an interesting 3-4-1-2 formation, which helped them overwhelm Union in midfield. Zulj is a quality player, but he lacks the scrappiness (and willingness to foul anyone and everyone) that makes Prömel such a stalwart member of Union’s midfield. Without Prömel’s fighting spirit, it was much easier for a desperate-for-points Magdeburg to take advantage of a listless Union.

Combine that absence with the boisterous home support -- complete with enough second-half pyro to blanket the field with a thick layer of smoke -- and the absolutely ravaged field -- chunks of grass and mud littered the pitch by the end of the first half -- and it’s understandable why Union had such a hard time on Sunday. Yet it being understandable doesn't make it any less disappointing.

Magdeburg put Union to the ropes several times in the first half, finally breaking through in the 39th minute through forward Christian Beck. Aware that changes needed to be made if the team had any hope of striking back in the second half, Fischer subbed off winger Suleiman Abdullahi -- already on a yellow card and in danger of getting another -- for Akaki Gogia, whose hot streak to start the season cooled off enough for him to lose his job in the starting 11.

Yet like Andersson the week before again Darmstadt, Gogia took advantage of the opportunity given to him and scored a beautiful goal to tie up the game in the 65th minute. Fischer brought on Polter in place of Felix Kroos for added firepower and later on subbed Marcel Hartel for Joshua Mees, but despite the energy brought to the field by these two subs, it wasn’t enough for a decidedly subpar Union Berlin squad to steal a win.

The result brings Union’s overall record to six wins and 10 draws, for a total of 28 points. They’re still in the 3rd place promotion playoff spot, but they’re level on points with 4th place St. Pauli and five points in back of 2nd place Koln. This Saturday, they return to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei to take on 7th place Bochum. A home win would provide a nice boost to an Union Berlin side that is starting to lag as the holiday break looms on the horizon. To close out with year with promotion still within reach would be the perfect holiday gift for Union fans everywhere.