Third-placed Hoffenheim came into this game dreaming of making the main draw of the UEFA Champions League for just the second time in their history.
However, it was the visitors that started the game the better of the two sides, forcing Oliver Baumann into action after just seven minutes when Rani Khedira tried to sneak the ball in at the near-post from a tight angle, but the Hoffenheim skipper managed to keep it out.
Christian Ilzer’s team initially struggled to match their recent form but improved as the match progressed. They were awarded a penalty five minutes before HT when Fisnik Asllani was fouled by Leopold Querfeld in the box.
Andrej Kramaric converted the penalty, giving the hosts the lead.
Die Kraichgauer gained momentum after the goal and scored again just before half-time, as Kramaric secured his second goal with a well-placed header into the bottom-left corner from Bazoumana Toure’s cross.
The home side picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, adding a third after just three minutes as Diogo Leite turned the ball into his own goal from inside the six-yard box.
Union had a good opportunity to pull one back with an hour on the clock, but András Schafer was unable to steer his shot across the goal beyond Baumann.
However, Die Eisernen did manage to get one back as the game was about to enter the final 20 minutes, as Khedira managed to fire into the bottom-left corner from just inside the penalty area to keep Union’s hopes of salvaging a result alive.
That proved to be little more than a consolation, as Hoffenheim saw the game out to secure a fifth straight victory that keeps them well in control in their race for a top-four finish. As for Union Berlin, they remain sitting comfortably in midtable, despite failing to win any of their last five matches (D3, L2).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim)