Janik Haberer: MD10's Man of the Matchday keeps Union Berlin at the Bundesliga summit

Win number seven of the campaign for the team from the capital was never really in doubt once the alert Haberer hot-footed it towards Gregor Kobel to capitalise on a goalkeeping error in the eighth minute. A slickly hit second from distance soon afterwards had Haberer sprinting towards the bouncing home fans, ecstatic in Berlin Köpenick once again.

A third goal in eight appearances for Union equals the 28-year-old's best-ever haul for a campaign, his first-ever Bundesliga double doing the damage against the defeated Dortmund.

"I felt a bit sorry for [Kobel] on the first goal, that he slipped as he did, but you have to take it," Haberer said afterwards, adding, "The second goal was very nice, I hit it well."

With Bayern Munich beating fellow top-four challengers Freiburg - Haberer's former side - in Super Sunday's late game, Union are four points clear at the league summit and leading a charge that is stirring the imagination across the footballing world.

The summer switch from the Black Forest has suited Haberer, who - after six seasons and 158 top-flight appearances with the boys from Breisgau - has settled into Urs Fischer's confident side with relative ease. "I get a lot of playing time and have already adapted well to the system; I get along great with the guys on and off the pitch," the Wangen native explained.

"A lot is coming together at the moment; you can see that from our place in the table," he continued. "But I believe that there is still potential for development for the team and for me. We're hungry to get more points."

Arriving at Union seeking more on-field action, the 6'1" midfielder has to be delighted with his 13 appearances across all competitions to date. Along with helping Die Eisernen to lofty heights in the Bundesliga, he has also played 321 minutes of the club's UEFA Europa League campaign, with Union still very much in contention to reach the knockout stages.

About the players 19

Janik

Haberer

1. FC Union Berlin

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Missing out on his side's 1-1 draw against Bayern in early September, Haberer's absence was due to one more major celebration for the player in what has been a memorable year, namely the birth of his first child, a daughter. "[Fatherhood] is all relatively new, but I'm enjoying every single minute with my wife and the little one," he said.

What's also new this campaign is Union's rise to the very top. Haberer's goals ensured the Berliners equalled their best start to the first half of a season after just 10 games of this one. Currently on 23 points after the opening 10 rounds, Union's previous best tally at this stage was 16 points. In truth, there is no telling where all of this might end.

Where Super Sunday ends, however, is with Union top looking down on the rest, and Haberer delighted with a memorable double that helps to keep them there.

About the clubs 1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei

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