Held in check on their lawn by Bayer Leverkusen (0-0), Union Berlin missed the opportunity on Saturday to get closer to the leading duo (Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich) but especially see their pursuers, Freiburg and RB Leipzig come back on him.
In Cologne, SC Friborg once again found the fault on a set piece. On a corner taken by Christian Günter, Lukas Höler was able to deflect the leather to the far post where the Japanese international Ritsu Doan scored with a header.
Thanks to this success, Freiburg returns to equal points with Union Berlin, but remains behind only on the general goal difference, (9 against 13)
The fight for third and fourth places, qualifying for the next Champions League, intensified as Leipzig were able to count on their French striker Christopher Nkunku, against Hoffenheim. The Frenchman scored his thirteenth goal of the season but above all the first since his injury a few days before the World Cup.
Freiburg and Leipzig are not going to separate next week, since they will compete on Tuesday evening (8:45 p.m.) for a place in the German Cup final, and will meet again four days later, still in Freiburg, on behalf of the 31st day of the Bundesliga, when Union Berlin will travel to Bavaria in Augsburg.