Union Berlin draws with Bayern, Davies sets '20-21 Bundesliga speed record

Alphonso Davies was held off the score sheet as FC Union Berlin and Bayern Munich played to a 1-1 draw.

BERLIN -- They weren't allowed inside the stadium but Union Berlin fans let their team know they were there outside as Union held Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich 1-1 on Saturday.

Union supporters gave the team bus a fiery welcome with a pyrotechnic display before police arrived, and fans set off fireworks during and after the game.

"It did us good to feel this support," Union coach Urs Fischer said about the fans' reception when the team arrived for the game.

Grischa Promel gave Union a fourth-minute lead before Robert Lewandowski equalized in the 67th to keep Bayern top of the league on goal difference from Leipzig.

Bayer Leverkusen has a chance to go first Sunday with a win over Hoffenheim.

Union fans were excluded from Bayern's visit last season, too. The teams' first meeting at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei (Stadium at the Old Forester's House) was called off when the coronavirus pandemic broke in March, then played in an empty stadium when the league resumed two months later.

Union, which was promoted last season, is yet to play Bayern with supporters present. No fans are allowed to attend any Bundesliga games as Germany grapples with a second wave of the virus.

But hundreds turned up anyway to welcome their team for its biggest league game of the season.

"We're trying to let the team know from outside (the stadium) that we're still supporting them and giving them a bit of courage for the difficult game against Bayern," Union fan Dirk Donath told The Associated Press before kickoff.

Robert Mailing, who was there with his dog to welcome the team, was going to watch the game at home, then return afterward again. In bitter cold, the dog was wearing a jacket signed last season by the Union team.

"There's a new jacket for this season and that'll be signed, too," Mailing said.

Despite saying "it's rubbish without fans," Mailing was in favour of the restrictions, especially as he had a lung complaint.

"I know people who've got the darned virus and if I get it that's probably it for me," he said. "I hope it's over soon"

Union fan Eyk Grasnick noted that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had tears in her eyes as she appealed during the week for people to socially distance.

"Football is incidental this year, but it's a nice incidental thing and that's why I'm here, to savour the atmosphere a bit," Grasnick said.

Union had a great start with Taiwo Awoniyi testing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in a one-on-one within the first minute.

The home side keep pushing and Promel scored with a header from a corner in the fourth minute. Fans outside the stadium could be heard celebrating some 15 seconds later. They kept chanting as Serge Gnabry missed a good chance to equalize.

Awoniyi almost made it 2-0 in the 22nd before Lewandowski sought a penalty at the other end. Replays showed he went down under apparent minimal contact.

Union keeper Andreas Luthe blocked a shot from Gnabry before the break.

Bayern improved in the second half though Awoniyi went close before Luthe produced a fine save to thwart Thomas Muller at the other end.

Bayern's pressure eventually paid off when Kingsley Coman set up Lewandowski for the equalizer.

Both sides had chances as the game became frenetic. Union substitute Keita Endo should have scored but placed his shot too close to Neuer in the 76th, and Luthe produced a fantastic save to deny Leroy Sane in the 89th.

Canadian phenom Alphonso Davies didn't get on the scoresheet in his second game back since tearing ligaments in his ankle on Oct. 24, but he did show he's back in fine form, posting the fastest recorded speed in the Bundesliga this season at 35.94 km/h.

DORTMUND HUMILIATED

Stuttgart routed Borussia Dortmund 5-1 to extend the home side's winless run in the league to three games.

American Gio Reyna scored a brilliant equalizer in the 39th minute for Dortmund, but it was the only highlight in a game to forget for Lucien Favre's team.

It was Stuttgart's first win over Dortmund in 14 years.

Silas Wamangituka put the visitors ahead with a penalty in the 27th, before the 18-year-old Reyna equalized when he took Raphael Guerreiro's ball over the top brilliantly with his first touch, then flicked it past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel with his next.

Stuttgart had twice as many shots on goal in the first half, however, and the promoted side made them count in the second. Wamangituka grabbed his second goal in the 53rd, Philipp Forster scored in the 60th and Wamangituka set up Tanguy Coulibaly in the 63rd.

Jadon Sancho missed a good chance for Dortmund before Reyna had a goal ruled out through VAR as substitute Youssoufa Moukoko was offside in the buildup.

Nicolas Gonzalez completed the rout in injury time.

Leipzig enjoyed a 2-0 win at home over Werder Bremen, Borussia M?nchengladbach drew with Hertha Berlin 1-1, Freiburg defeated Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 and Cologne won at Mainz 1-0.

With files from Sportsnet.

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