What the papers say: 'The next frenzied game'

The Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel describes the crucial phase of the game: "As uneventful the first half of the second half was, the closing stages were turbulent. In one counter-attack, Kevin Volland put Diaby through with a delightful lob and the substitute put the visitors in the lead. Union then hit back a few minutes later. Substitute Polter passed from the left to Bülter in the penalty area through a dummy before placing the ball in the top right corner of the net. Unfortunately for Berliners this was not the end. Leverkusen suddenly pressed forward: Late in added-time, Bellarabi dribbled into the penalty area and surprised Rafal Gikiewicz with a shot from an incredibly tight angle."

"High tempo takes its toll"

The online edition of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger provides the following analysis: "Leverkusen were able add to the spectacular victory over Borussia Dortmund (4-3) with another win. Bayer 04 have a perfect record against Union: Four games, four wins. However, a mixture of a large amount of effort and luck was required on Saturday night. With five wins from the first six games in 2020, the scene is set for the first leg of the Europa League knockout game against Porto on Thursday (21.00 CET/BayArena)." Under the heading 'That was good’: "The spectacular final 15 minutes was compensation for the previous dull 75 minutes. The high tempo took its toll on the Berliners but they still went all out for the win. Bayer 04 had space and were able to pass quickly. It was the substitutes who finally brought success – although it would have been no surprise given the course of the game if the Berlin keeper Gikiewicz had made it 3-3 from a corner in the 98th minute."„

The scorer of the winning goal was named Man of the Match: "Karim Bellarabi, taken off at half-time against Dortmund after a poor display, won the game today. With pace, power and the obligatory eyes on the ball, the winger broke from the byline into the six-yard box in the fourth minute of added time and somehow put the ball in the back of the net – with another ten attempts he probably would not have managed it for a second time."

Empty-handed in spite of two wonder goals

The snappy assessment in Kicker: "Bayer 04 Leverkusen have won the next frenzied Bundesliga game. The Rhinelanders were below par for large stretches of the match at Union Berlin but emerged with a 3-2 victory thanks to two goals from substitutes in a spectacular end to the game. The team from Köpenick ended up empty-handed despite a good performance and two wonder goals."

"Completely mad game"

The Bild am Sonntag focuses on the unlucky losers: "The twelfth defeat for newcomers Union Berlin is the most disappointing. Losing 3-2 to Leverkusen in a completely mad game – with the knockout goal on 94 minutes from Karim Bellarabi. Union striker Robert Andrich took a pot shot at himself and his team-mates: 'All three goals conceded were incredibly naïve in the way we defended.' Goalscorer Christian Gentner: 'Before the game, the coach talked about us not allowing any silly mistakes or naïveté but unfortunately some of it happened.' … And the Union drama took its course. Diaby made it 2-1 (83') and Union’s Bülter (87') 2-2. Just as the Alte Försterei was celebrating the point, Bosz substitute Bellarabi struck. A relieved Lars Bender: 'We lost to Hoffenheim two weeks ago and were almost out of the Champions League race. Now we are back in it. That shows how quickly things can change.'"

Head-shaking as a sign

The online edition of the Rheinische Post sums up the events in Köpenick: "If a coach is watches a game with his arms folded and shaking his head just after the kick-off, then that is mostly not a good sign for his team. For Bayer Leverkusen's coach Peter Bosz, that was the case after just a few minutes in the away game at Union Berlin. Christian Gentner, set up by Yunus Malli, gave the newcomers an early lead – shortly after Sebastian Andersson put a great chance just wide of the left upright. But Kai Havertz and Moussa Diaby turned the game round before Marius Bülter equalised on 87 minutes. Then it was time for Karim Bellarabi to put the ball in the back of the net in the fourth minute of added time to make it 3-2."