The China Mail - Becker keeps Union on Champions League course at Gladbach

Becker's ninth league goal of the season, a volley after a looping cross from Jerome Roussillon, snared all three points for the visitors, sending them to outright third.

Freiburg's earlier win over Schalke meant the Black Forest side had overtaken Union into third before kickoff.

With RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen also hot on their trail, Union endured a stale first half before upping the intensity in the second, Becker slamming in after 60 minutes.

After taking the lead, Union manager Urs Fischer made several changes to take the speed out of the game and let his side's stingy defence take centre-stage.

With 31 goals against, Union have conceded the fewest of any side in the Bundesliga this season.

Union, who are only in their fourth year in the top division in their history, are now on course for a remarkable maiden Champions League appearance.

- Freiburg fourth -

Earlier, a first-half brace from Michael Gregoritsch helped lift Freiburg up to fourth after a 4-0 home victory against struggling Schalke.

Like Union, Freiburg have never played in the Champions League.

"The team knew what was coming for us and we were ready. We were determined and we deserved to win," said Freiburg coach Christian Streich.

His Schalke counterpart Thomas Reis admitted his team could "be thankful that we didn't lose by more".

"We were in no way an equal opponent. There's nothing much more I can say about that today," he said.

Gregoritsch scored after just seven minutes, tapping home after a perfectly-weighted Ritsu Doan assist.

The Austrian used his head to double Freiburg's lead late in the first half, glancing in a cross from defender Christian Guenter.

Doan was again the creative force early in the second half for Freiburg's third, pushing past several defenders to find Gregoritsch in the box.

He then threaded the ball through for Lucas Hoeler, who blasted the ball at Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow.

Schwolow failed to properly grasp the effort, allowing the ball to trickle into the goal for Freiburg's third.

Freiburg defender Matthias Ginter added a fourth with eight minutes remaining.

Schalke, who went eight games unbeaten early in 2023, have now lost three of their past four.

The Royal Blues, a traditional German football giant, are in grave danger of being relegated straight back to the second division.

They sit second from bottom and three points from safety, with five rounds of the season remaining.

Bayer Leverkusen kept their strong run of form under manager Xabi Alonso alive, winning 2-0 at home over 10-man RB Leipzig.

Leverkusen, who on Thursday made it through to the semi finals of the Europa League with a win at Union Saint-Gilloise, went to sixth place, five points outside of the top four.

They took the lead late in the first half through Adam Hlozek.

France winger Moussa Diaby burst through the penalty area, before cutting back to the unmarked Hlozek inside the box. The Czech Republic striker hit a left-footed finish past Janis Blaswich.

With Leipzig looking to salvage something from the encounter late in the game, Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai brought down Jeremie Frimpong in the box, picking up a second yellow.

Nadiem Amiri converted from the spot, sealing a comfortable win for Leverkusen.

Leverkusen have now gone unbeaten in their past 13 matches in all competitions, including 10 victories and three draws.

Alonso, who took over with the side in danger of relegation, said Leverkusen won because "we were ready to fight and to suffer".

Leipzig's loss leaves them one point outside the Champions League spots with five games remaining.

S.Wilson--ThChM