Bayer Leverkusen missed the chance to break into the Bundesliga top four as they suffered a 1-0 loss to Union Berlin on Saturday. 

Rani Khedira's first-half lob at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei was enough to snap Leverkusen's four-match winning streak, while it also helped Union pick up their first win of 2026. 

The hosts started on the front foot as Derrick Kohn nearly slid Andrej Ilic through early on before they found their opener in the 28th minute, courtesy of some lovely interplay between Khedira and Aljoscha Kemlein. 

Kemlein's chipped pass was converted by Khedira, who coolly lobbed Janis Blaswich to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Leverkusen pushed for an equaliser to no avail, with Alejandro Grimaldo lacking his usual threat from set-piece positions. 

Substitute Patrik Schick saw a golden opportunity go begging as his stoppage-time header off Ibrahima Maza's pinpoint delivery skewed narrowly over the crossbar. 

Data Debrief: Union finally turn the tide 

Union have scored in their last four Bundesliga matches – their longest hot streak since a run of nine games between November 2025 to January 2026. 

The hosts also picked up their first Bundesliga win over Leverkusen since January 2021, ending a run of 10 matches without a win. 

Despite Leverkusen edging the expected goals (xG) battle 0.95 to 0.64, Steffen Baumgart’s side proved more clinical when it mattered, converting their limited chances to seal a valuable win.