Union Berlin has to compete in the cup against the young model students of VfB Stuttgart. In Berlin, despite a series of bankruptcies, they invoke the old virtues.
Facts about the game
- In the first round, both teams beat fourth division teams 4-0: Union beat FC-Astoria Walldorf, VfB defeated Balingen
- The last time the two teams met was 10 days before the cup game – Union lost 0-3
- With Jamie Leweling and Genki Haraguchi, two ex-Union players are currently active for VfB
- Last season, VfB reached the cup semi-finals (2:3 against Eintracht Frankfurt), the year before Union reached the round of the last four (1:2 at RB Leipzig).
That’s what moves Union
Negative trend, downward spiral, crisis. After 10th competitive defeat in a row Only one point separates the former high-flyers from Köpenick from the Bundesliga relegation place. The club still has nothing to show for it in the Champions League.
This means that the task in the cup at VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday potentially poses an enormous risk: What happens to Urs Fischer if this game is also lost? Would the coach, who is undoubtedly highly valued at the club, still be retained?
Immediately after the latest blow to Werder Bremen on Saturday, the usual sober and analytical Swiss had a hint of resignation. He tried to do his best every day, he said, and added: “If that is no longer sufficient, then you have to deal with this decision accordingly.”
Finally in crisis
Union Berlin is slipping deeper and deeper into the relegation battle. The defeat against Bremen was particularly difficult because two of the most reliable players made mistakes. Coach Urs Fischer is under pressure to improve the offense. By Till Oppermannmore
However, managing director Oliver Ruhnert remains convinced that the club will be able to turn things around with Fischer on the sidelines. The manager said of his coach: “He has the impression that he is making the team”. “We will first discuss internally what we can do.”
What is clear, however, is that despite the demonstrative modesty that they always show within the club (season goal: 40 points), expectations have grown. New players like Robin Gosens and Leonardo Bonucci may have at least hoped for more from their involvement with the Eiserne than playing against slipping into a relegation place in the drizzle at the Weserstadion.
If a second-round exit in the DFB Cup (and thus the 11th defeat in a row) were to be added to the burden of the relegation battle and the expected elimination from the Champions League, renewed slogans of perseverance from club officials would seem increasingly out of place. In fact, the pressure to justify should then increase to finally find an answer to the dramatic decline of 1. FC Union Berlin.
“We need to take another step forward,” said Urs Fischer at the press conference on Monday and was optimistic. “That means there has to be a cup fight.” It is important to call upon the “virtues of Union”: “We have to try to be courageous.”
The opponent check
The lightness that the Unioners are currently lacking is what sets their upcoming opponents apart. VfB Stuttgart is the surprise team of the season. Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who has been in office for a good six months, has managed to turn the team that was almost relegated last season – Stuttgart only saved itself in the relegation against Hamburger SV – into a contender for the international places. The Swabians’ offensive power is feared; together with Bayer Leverkusen, they currently form the second most successful attack in the Bundesliga.
The downside of the successful Union years
The Union skyscrapers are at risk of falling into the relegation zone if they go bankrupt in Bremen on Saturday. A scenario that would have been dismissed as absurd not long ago. How could it come to this? An attempt at an explanation. By Shea Westhoffmore
Even in the most recent 2:3 defeat on Saturday against TSG Hoffenheim, the team presented an impressive offensive performance over long stretches and was overwhelmingly superior (23:7 shots on goal) – but ultimately failed mainly due to the brilliant parrying of Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
The team put on an impressive performance even without striker Serhou Guirassy, who seems to have scored at will this season. Above all, Deniz Undav, Silas, Enzo Millot and new national player Chris Führich demonstrated that they can compensate for Guirassy’s injury-related absence, which will probably last another two weeks.
This is how Union could play
What answer the Union defense finds to attacking Stuttgart will probably be a central story of the game. The team’s former showpiece, the defense, is currently looking more vulnerable than ever before. Union conceded nine goals in the last three Bundesliga games.
During the same period, the attack hit zero times. Kevin Behrens, who played furiously at the start of the season, has been trying to score in the goal again for 12 hours without success. And the former top scorer Sheraldo Becker was particularly noticeable in the game at Werder Bremen by pushing a ball boy.
Fischer will also have to do without the injured Danilho Doekhi, Andras Schäfer and Josip Juranovic in Stuttgart, and Janik Haberer will also be out due to illness. David Fofana will sit out the second of two games due to his refusal to shake hands with Urs Fischer.
As in Bremen, Leonardo Bonucci will probably replace Doekhi in the starting line-up again. Urs Fischer didn’t reveal his cards when it came to his desired eleven, but said with regard to the game in Bremen: “There will be one or two changes, a certain freshness has to be on the pitch.”
Union’s possible starting eleven: Rönnow – Bonucci, Knoche, Diogo Leite – Gosens, Khedira, Trimmel – Tousart, Laidouni – Becker, Behrens
When soccer players bring the Middle East conflict to their social profiles
In the wake of the current Middle East conflict, Union Berlin player Aissa Laidouni posted a Palestinian flag with praying hands on Instagram. But not only that caused irritation, but also the behavior of the club. By Ilja Behnischmore
Prognosis
There are no arguments that could credibly justify that Union Berlin will achieve a turnaround in Stuttgart on Tuesday. On the other hand, Urs Fischer has enough players with a robust mentality who could be trusted to get the team back on track at the moment of greatest possible misfortune, players like Khedira, Bonucci, Trimmel and Gosens.
But whether this experience and callousness is enough to defend yourself against stormy Swabians, who currently have the youngest team in the Bundesliga (24.4 years)?
Editor’s tip: Union Berlin is eliminated from the cup with a 1-2 defeat.
Broadcast: rbb24, August 30, 2023, 6 p.m
