Union defender Paul Jaeckel heads the 1-0 win at VfB Stuttgart in the first half of the season (archive photo) Photo: THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP
From the BZ editorial team
Home game for Union Berlin on Saturday (3.30 p.m. / Sky and live ticker in BZ) against bottom of the table VfB Stuttgart. Third in the Bundesliga, Union is the clear favorite – all information about the game here in the BZ live ticker.
Iron home strength against Stuttgart away weakness: Union have not lost in their last 18 home league games. The Swabians could not win in the past 22 championship games abroad.
Union Berlin can also count on goalscorer Sheraldo Becker in the home game. The 28-year-old Dutchman is on the starting lineup for the Irons in the An der Alten Försterei stadium. Coach Urs Fischer had reported two days earlier that Becker was ill but confident. The ailing Paul Seguin, on the other hand, is not in the squad.
And regular keeper Frederik Rönnow is also missing. The 30-year-old Dane was stricken, the union said. Lennart Grill moves into the goal of the Berliners for him. Overall, coach Urs Fischer makes six changes compared to the 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt before the international break.
At least the 27-year-old Frenchman trained with the team for the first time after suffering an adductor injury during the week. Attacker Silas Katompa Mvumpa is not in the squad, he is said to have muscular problems. Defender Borna Sosa is missing, as VfB announced via Twitter shortly before the game, also due to muscular problems.
Overall, coach Bruno Labbadia makes five changes compared to the 0-1 win against VfL Wolfsburg, which saw the Swabians slip to the bottom of the table.