Leipzig join Bundesliga big guns' praise of leaders Union Berlin

RB Leipzig's Marco Rose was the latest Bundesliga coach on Monday to heap praise on Union Berlin for their remarkable run atop the Bundesliga, reported dpa.

Rose spoke of an "extraordinary development" the club from eastern Berlin has taken.

Leipzig know from experience, as they lost 2-1 in August at the Alte Försterei stadium, where 10-times reigning champions Bayern Munich were held 1-1 in September and the other contenders Borussia Dortmund beaten 2-0 on Sunday.

That has given Union a four-point lead over second-placed Bayern while they are seven ahead of Dortmund and eight clear of Leipzig.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said Union players were "doing everything for victory. Life often awards you for this. They deserve to be at the top."

Dortmund helmsman Edin Terzic has praised Union's attitude, saying after Sunday's defeat that their players force the opposition to do things they don't want to do.

"That's what makes a top team. Everyone knows what they are doing but you can't prevent it," Terzic said amid new questions around his team's attitude.

Union have lost only once in 10 league games and conceded a mere six goals, as some have started to wonder whether they could possible maintain this run and end up as surprise champions seven years after Leicester City did the same in the Premier League.

But there are still 24 games to play - including trips to Leipzig, Munich and Dortmund after the long World Cup and winter break.

And for Union coach Urs Fischer the outlook has not changed at all as he wants to reach the 40 points which are seen as the tally needed to stay in the top flight - despite already coming fifth last season.

"We gave out a goal at the start of the season that we get to the mark of 40 points. We are not changing our goal after 23 points," insisted Fischer who has been on the job since 2018.