Die Eisernen looking to make history

By Ben Sully   @SullyBen

Union Berlin will have the chance to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history when they face Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Urs Fischer.
Urs Fischer. Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0

Union Berlin


Union’s struggles on the road continued with a 4-2 defeat to Hoffenheim last weekend. The result left Die Eisernen with one win in six away games, while it also ensured that the race for Champions League qualification would go down to the final day of the season.


Urs Fischer’s side head into the weekend in fourth position, but only goal difference separates them from fifth-placed Freiburg. Union know that if they match Freiburg’s result then they will qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Since losing to Borussia Dortmund in February 2022, Die Eisernen have gone 22 home league games without defeat. They now have the chance to complete a full Bundesliga season without losing a home match for the first time in their history.

Having won their last four Bundesliga games against Bremen, Union will certainly be confident of picking up all three points on Saturday.

Team News


Fischer has the majority of his squad available to him, although András Schäfer remains sidelined with a foot injury.

Werder Bremen


With their place in the Bundesliga secured, Bremen have little to play for on the final day of the season. After winning promotion from the 2. Bundesliga last season, Bremen can be proud of the fact that they have avoided an immediate return to the second tier, but they will be disappointed with their recent form.

Ole Werner’s side have won just one of their last 16 matches, while they have failed to win any of their previous four games. They at least managed to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in their home meeting with FC Köln last weekend. Bremen trailed at the break following Steffen Tigges’ opener, but Romano Schmid found the net in the second period to salvage a point.


Having conceded in each of their last 11 matches, Bremen will be hoping to produce a solid defensive display in their final match of the 2022-23 campaign.

Team News


Christian Gross, Mitchell Weiser, Amos Pieper, Dikeni Salifou and Felix Agu are all sidelined with injury issues. After picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend, Jens Stage is suspended for the final match of the season.

Related stories

Borussia Dortmund vs. Mainz 05 preview: BVB on the brink of Bundesliga title
Bochum vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Can Bochum escape the bottom three?
Report: Freiburg close in on Salzburg striker



Source link

About Author