On Thursday, Union Berlin hosts Malmö FF for the important second leg in the Europa League. In the run-up, concerns about renewed fan riots and a visit from Viktor Orban created noise that now has to be braved.
topics of the week
Of course, sporting was also an issue when Union Berlin invited to the obligatory press conference before the Europa League second leg against Malmö FF on Wednesday afternoon. Also, but by no means exclusively. As usual, coach Urs Fischer provided information about his players’ ability to play, but the Swiss also gave insights into his observations of the Swedish opponents. However, two topics far removed from football were at least as present on Wednesday: the Worry about renewed fan riots and the Criticism of a visit by controversial Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
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That was a whole 27 minutes First leg in Malmo temporarily interrupted in the past week. The entire game was marked and overshadowed by ongoing provocations between the two fan camps, pyrotechnics thrown onto the field, rockets and arrests. A week later, Union spokesman Christian Arbeit was asked on Wednesday how such incidents were to be prevented in the second leg in Berlin. “There’s a lot of police presence,” Labor said. The number of folders provided by the association will also be increased from 300 to 400.
On Wednesday, Union was no longer able to prevent the criticism that the club was exposed to after a visit by Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the old forester’s house. On Tuesday he – accompanied by a lot of police and staged in an extremely effective way – visited his compatriot and Unioner Andras Schäfer there. Although press spokesman Work tried on Wednesday to emphasize the private nature of the meeting and to depoliticize it, critical voices were also raised from the fans’ own environment and even the day after the meeting.
The question of whether the combination of these two Köpenicker side shows could jeopardize the focus on the game against Malmö came up almost automatically at the press conference on Wednesday. Union coach Urs Fischer answered with a shake of the head.
The opponent
At least with regard to the style of play and the playfulness, there shouldn’t be any sensational surprises for Fischer and his protégés on Thursday. At least since the first leg, both Union and the 22-time Swedish champions have known each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Urs Fischer does not want to overestimate the fact that Malmö is still without a point in the Europa League this season and is also currently struggling in the domestic league (currently fifth in the table). “We have to exploit our performance potential and move to the limit,” he said.
Also because Malmö is characterized by a certain flexibility. Coach Aage Hareide’s team sometimes acts more actively, sometimes more cautiously and passively. The basis for this is a mostly compact defence, which is often deep. “Both teams will focus on the defensive,” believes Union defensive man Paul Jaeckel. Meanwhile, Urs Fischer himself addressed the variability of the guests again on Wednesday, but also said: “We are prepared for that.”
To show off
The statistics from the first leg offer a lot of fodder for all those who want to back up their football expertise with numbers on Thursday evening. Malmö made the game there, largely due to the red card from Andras Schäfer. The Swedes had 62 percent possession and made 647 passes with an 87 percent success rate. Union, on the other hand, only had 38 percent possession, 257 passes played and a pass rate of 72 percent.
That wasn’t a problem, as it is well known that Union not only knows how to play more active opponents, but mostly even prefers them. If their opponents make the game, the Köpenicker are mostly good. Due to a lot of efficiency, Union not only had 19:6 shots, 7:4 shots on goal and 6:2 corners taken in the first leg, but also secured the all-important 1-0 win.
This is how Union could play
There shouldn’t be any way around last week’s match winner in the second leg either: Sheraldo Becker is in excellent form and has recently proven often enough that he forms a good strike duo with Jordan. They get their next chance on Thursday. In defence, on the other hand, Urs Fischer is spoiled for choice. After his winner in Stuttgart at the weekend, Paul Jaeckel will start again, with Diogo Leite returning to replace Danilho Doekhi. Fischer also rotates in midfield: Morten Thorsby replaces the red-suspended Schäfer, Janik Haberer and Christopher Trimmel return to the starting eleven for Genki Haraguchi and Niko Gießelmann.
Union could begin like this:
Rönnow – Leite, Knoche, Jaeckel – Ryerson, Haberer, Thorsby, Khedira, Trimmel – Becker, Jordan
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Prognosis
In view of these names, but above all the footballing quality that hides behind them, Union Berlin is the favorite in the second leg in the Stadion an der Alten Försterei. The Berliners have been playing well in the Bundesliga for weeks and recently won a comparatively difficult game in Stuttgart. In addition, they not only defied Schäfer’s dismissal and the fan riots in Malmö last week, but also the pressure of urgently needing a win.
A success on Thursday would not only secure the Köpenickers third place and thus entry into the playoffs for the knockout phase of the Conference League, but above all significantly increase the chances of progressing in the Europa League. Coupled with the greater playful qualities of the Union, these prospects will not only motivate the hosts, but will also bring them the second Europa League victory in the club’s history: 2-0.
Broadcast: rbb24, October 12, 2022, 6 p.m
