With a Chest to Glory – Patrik Schick Makes History as Union Crumbles

Sometimes, all it takes is a chest, a moment of brilliance, and a pinch of luck to rewrite history. Bayer 04 pulled off a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Union Berlin, not only handing the Köpenick side their first home defeat of the Bundesliga season but also celebrating a new club record. It was one of those matches where you sit in the stands or on your couch thinking, "Please don’t let this be a dull grind." But hey, with Bayer 04, there’s always something to talk about.

The Stadion An der Alten Försterei has this fortress-like aura—rugged but not invincible. Bayer proved that last year when a narrow win there all but secured the Meisterschale. This time, the stakes were different: it was all about staying within striking distance of Bayern Munich. The lineup already sparked debate: no Florian Wirtz in the starting eleven? Xabi Alonso clearly had one eye on the DFB-Pokal showdown on Tuesday. That’s just how it goes when you’re competing on all fronts—rotation is necessary, even if it feels risky.

But rotation or not, the start was a dream. A long ball from Jonathan Tah, a blistering run from Alejandro Grimaldo, a perfectly weighted pass to Jeremie Frimpong—and boom, 1-0 in under two minutes. Berlin looked stunned, and as a fan, you couldn’t help but think, "We’re on fire!" Yet, anyone who knows Union knows they don’t roll over easily. With their trademark grit and relentless fight, they clawed their way back to an equalizer, and suddenly, the mood turned tense. Bayer dominated possession, but the cutting edge was missing. By halftime, it was all square, and there was this nagging worry in the back of every fan’s mind: "Please, not one of those Bayer games where we let it slip."

The second half started just as scrappy, with Union making it tough for Bayer to find their rhythm. But then came the moment we were all waiting for: Florian Wirtz stepped onto the pitch, and the entire dynamic shifted. It was like someone flipped a switch. And when Patrik Schick chested the ball into the net, it was pure relief. Not just because it was the winner, but because it marked Schick’s 48th Bundesliga goal for Bayer—a new club record. How fitting for such a milestone to come in such a critical game.

The closing stages were nerve-wracking as Union threw everything forward, but Bayer held their ground. It wasn’t the prettiest performance of the season, but winning games like this is what separates contenders from pretenders. Now, all eyes turn to the future: Bayern Munich awaits in the DFB-Pokal, followed by a home clash against St. Pauli. As a fan, you can’t help but feel that this team is on the verge of something special—they have the talent, the determination, and yes, that little bit of luck you always need.

You could call it a workmanlike victory, but that feels too clinical. It was a piece of club history wrapped in 90 minutes of Bundesliga football. And who knows? Maybe we’ll look back at this gritty win in Berlin and say, "That’s where it all started." Sometimes, all it takes is a chest to set everything in motion.