8 Goals In 45 Minutes, Union Berlin And Stuttgart Write Bundesliga History

It is a game that will go down in Bundesliga history. The Saturday Topspiel between Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart saw eight goals in the first half scored by seven different goal scorers in front of 22,012 fans at the sold-out Alte Försterei in Berlin-Köpenick.

The floodgates opened early when Union Berlin’s Andrej Ilic scored in the fifth minute from inside the box. Then, in the 19th minute, Union Berlin doubled the lead after Diogo Leite scored from a set piece.

Just four minutes later, Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav halved the lead with an incredible goal from distance. But it wouldn’t be the last. In the 30th minute, Enzo Millot equalized for Stuttgart with yet another astonishing effort from distance.

That lead wouldn’t last long, however. Leopold Querfeld scored with yet another shot from distance. According to Bundesliga stats, the Undav shot hit the back of the net with a speed of 100.77 km/h from 19.93m out. The Millot shot hit 107.86 km/h from 24.51m out.

Querfeld’s goal topped all that. The shot by the 21-year-old Austrian center-back came from 34 meters out and reached a top speed of 118.08 km/h. On their own, all three goals would be in the goal of the month contention, and they underlined what had been a crazy half up until this point.

The two teams, however, were not done. In the 43rd minute, with halftime looming, Jeff Chabot scored a header from a corner to bring Stuttgart back level. Then two minutes later, Chris Führich scored yet another stunning goal to make it 3-4 for the visitors.

There would be yet another twist in the first half. In the sixth minute of injury time, Ilic scored his second of the game to make it 4-4—eight goals in one half, a new Bundesliga record.

“It was a crazy game,” Millot said. “We conceded three goals after set pieces. That was difficult for us, but we kept fighting.”

How improbable was this result? A look at the xG underlines what has been an improbable half, which was 0.97 to 0.68 in Union’s favour.

Unfortunately, those who tuned in at halftime, attracted by what was a goal fest in the first half, would be disappointed by the second 45 minutes. Both teams, perhaps shocked by what they had witnessed in the first half, decided to shut it down.

Meanwhile, the xG grew from 1.33 to 1.48 in the visitors’ favour. There weren’t many clear-cut chances for either side in the second 45 minutes. Indeed, the two teams appeared to decide to shut it down, perhaps content with the one point each.

“We didn’t score the fifth goal, which was disappointing,” Millot said. “But we just have to continue and try to get results for the rest of the season.”

For Union Berlin, after all, it was the 100th home game in the Bundesliga. With Heidenheim losing to Bayern Munich earlier today, the point also means that Union Berlin has now secured their place in next season’s top flight.

In the meantime, Stuttgart will be a bit disappointed by the point. Die Schwaben are now stuck in 11th place, six points out of a European spot. VfB Stuttgart, however, will be back in Berlin for the DFB Pokal final at the Olympiastadion, and a victory there over 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld would secure a spot in the Europa League.