It still sounds like a fairy tale to some: Union Berlin and SC Freiburg in the Champions League. But both teams are among the best Bundesliga teams of recent years. Therefore, the direct duel for qualification for the European top floor on Saturday (from 3.30 p.m., live in the radio report on sportschau.de) is only the logical consequence of their good work.
The ticket for the European Cup has been secured for both teams since last Sunday. The defeat of Wolfsburg ensured that in the worst case you could still slip to sixth place and thus into the Conference League qualification.
This is already a great success for both teams, even though they have already played in the Europa League this season. Next year it could go one floor higher for the first time.
Union is currently in the lead
Union and SC are currently tied with 56 points – because of the better goal difference, the Berliners are still ahead. With a victory in a direct duel, a team could gain a decisive advantage.
Freiburg coach Christian Streich does not feel any exceptional pressure because of this: “We’re in a good position. We can actually go into the game very positively. It’s not a duel where it’s about: who gets relegated? That would be a completely different form of pressure.” That’s right, both teams have had nothing to do with relegation for years.
Union and Freiburg are among the top teams
Union Berlin’s haul of points since promotion in 2019 is impressive: in 133 games, the Köpenickers scored 204 points (1.53 points on average). Curiously, SC Freiburg scored exactly the same number of points during this period. Only Bayern, Dortmund, Leipzig and Leverkusen are ahead of them.
For a club like Union, which not so long ago was still struggling to survive, this development is outstanding. Especially since the Unioners have been able to improve in each of their previous Bundesliga seasons: “Things have only gone uphill over the years”, said coach Fischer. The record from the previous season (57 points) is within reach again this year: Another win would be enough.
And the SC already has a record season for sure. More than the previous 16 Bundesliga victories came only in the 1994/95 season. At that time, third place was the previous top position in the Bundesliga. That wasn’t enough for the Champions League at the time – this year even fourth place would be enough. After sixth and fifth place in the past few years, that’s actually just the logical order.
Union and Freiburg – experience and continuity
Union Berlin and SC Freiburg are among the top performers in the league. In the market value table, they are only in the middle of the field and yet they are leaving clubs like Leverkusen, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg behind this season. Clubs whose financial leeway is significantly greater. The most important factors for success are experience and continuity.
In Christian Streich and Urs Fischer, the two longest-serving coaches meet on Saturday, and at 57 they are also the oldest coaches. When asked about this, Fischer responded jokingly: “Weed does not pass.”
Both clubs are able to form a unit and internalize philosophies thanks to their consistency in coaching. Big upheavals, which many other Bundesliga clubs carry out every year, are non-existent here. Freiburg has been living this idea for decades. Union is well on the way to copying this approach with Fischer.
Captains Trimmel and Günter before anniversaries
The captains of both teams also symbolize experience and continuity. The 36-year-old Christopher Trimmel already led the Union on the field in league two. He could play his 300th competitive game for the Köpenickers on Saturday. Freiburg’s captain Christian Günter is about to make his 300th appearance in the Bundesliga. The perennial favorite on the left wing is thus his club’s record Bundesliga player – as is Trimmel.
Both clubs show that success is not necessarily linked to large financial resources. Working without a lot of noise and consistency on and off the field allow the teams to play football successfully. Union Berlin and SC Freiburg in the Champions League – that’s no longer just a fairy tale, but maybe in three weeks’ time it will be reality for one of the two.