Not the time for gifts for a former club

It will be a special clash for the quartet and an emotional return to Sinsheim for Vogt and Volland. And a special occasion for the Hoffenheim duo too. This is what Grischa Prömel had to say this week in an interview with rbb Sport: “I’m looking forward to the reunion. I am still in contact with Rani Khedira and Christopher Trimmel, for example. But also with some members of the staff who support the team.” Nonetheless, it is safe to say none of the players are ready to offer any gifts to their respective former clubs. TSG have won only one of their last 12 Bundesliga matches and require a victory to stay in the race for the European places. The motivation is entirely different for the Köpenick outfit, who only occupy 15th place in what has been a disappointing season and are still plagued by relegation worries despite claiming a 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg last week and moving five points clear of 16th place.

The significantly improved performances this year represent a ray of hope for the Berlin outfit. Seven points from six games might not be a reason for boundless optimism, but it is still a noticeably improved haul compared to the 13 points they took from the previous 16 games. The last two games have seen a 1-1 in Mainz before the 1-0 win over Wolfsburg. But the slight upward curve does not mask the fact that there have been problems in the attacking department this term that have continued into the second half of the season. 20 goals from 21 games is the third-worst record in the league. Defensively, however, Union have stabilised. Under coach Nenad Bjelica, who succeeded Urs Fischer on 27 November 2023, Union have conceded only eight goals in nine matches – and three of them were in the 3-0 loss in Bochum in the Croat’s second game.

However, a weakness of the team has continued under Bjelica: the Berlin outfit have struggled on the road, with five points from 11 away games representing the worst record in the league. Union now have another chance in Sinsheim to improve their position in the table and their statistics. Grischa Prömel is expecting an intense clash with his former club and Kevin Vogt, who has immediately earned himself a starting berth and is available again after a suspension: “They simply know how to defend and throw themselves into everything, as we saw recently against Wolfsburg. They play with passion and have quality in their squad. That’s why it won’t be an easy game.”