Borussia Dortmund extended their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season, but they were frustrated in a 0-0 draw with Union Berlin.
Union Berlin 0-0 Borussia Dortmund: Kovac's side frustrated in second straight draw
Borussia Dortmund played out a draw for the second weekend running in the Bundesliga, with both sides struggling for clear-cut chances.
Niko Kovac's side temporarily moved top of the table, but they missed a chance to pile some real pressure on Freiburg and Bayern Munich following their second straight draw.
Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half, with Tim Skarke and Janik Haberer both firing wide for Union.
Dortmund threatened just before the break with some lovely one-touch link-up play down the left, but Ethan Nwaneri could not finish it off, firing straight at Frederik Ronnow.
Dortmund upped the pressure after the break as Maximilian Beier got in front of his marker to meet Julian Ryerson's cross, but he volleyed wide under no pressure.
Skarke and Nwaneri both fired wide at either end as both sides continued to toil and the match became increasingly gritty.
Serhou Guirassy had two late chances to find a winner, but he awkwardly volleyed straight at Ronnow before his off-target header hit Mathis Albert, only to bounce narrowly wide.
Union and Dortmund forgot their shooting boots
Despite both teams getting into good positions in the final third, this was a match that lacked quality.
Union and Dortmund combined for 23 shots (11 for the hosts, 12 for BVB), but the visitors were responsible for the only two shots on target, with Union failing to test Gregor Kobel.
Kovac's side have enjoyed another strong start in the Bundesliga, just as they did last season, but BVB have stalled somewhat since the international break.
They conceded two late goals against Werder Bremen last weekend, but they at least showed off their defensive strengths at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei as they kept their fourth clean sheet of the Bundesliga season.
It was a second consecutive shutout for Union, who have conceded the second-most goals in the top flight, and Mauro Lustrinelli will certainly be the happier of the two managers.
