An all-important home clash!
RB Leipzig will host UnionBerlin at the Red Bull Arena on Sunday evening for matchday 20 of the Bundesliga season (17:30 CET). RBL will be looking to get back to winning ways after three losses in three games so far in 2024.
Union currently fins themselves in the midst of a relegation battle. They sit five points above the relegation play-off place and six points above the automatic relegation spots in 15th place (17 points).
We’ve compiled everything you need to know about Union’s form, key players and recent record against RBL in our opposition analysis.
“It’s a results business”
Marco Rose ahead of the Union game
Form
Recent games involving Union Berlin haven’t exactly been goalfests. Only two goals have been scored across their first three games of the new year. Union even managed to play out a close encounter with FCBayern, as they eventually only lost 1-0 at the Allianz Arena. Last weekend, they secured a crucial 1-0 victoryat home against fellow strugglers SV Darmstadt 98.
Union Berlin’s last five competitive games
- 1-0 win against Darmstadt 98 (Matchday 19)
- 1-0 loss away at FC Bayern (Matchday 13, rearranged fixture)
- 0-0 draw away at SC Freiburg (Matchday 17)
- 2-0 win against 1. FC Köln (Matchday 16)
- 3-0 loss away at VfL Bochum (Matchday 15)
Key facts
- Union have only scored 18 goals in 18 Bundesliga games so far this season. Only 1. FSV Mainz 05 (14) and 1. FC Köln have scored fewer goals that the Eisern. Union still have to make the trip to Mainz this season, as their matchday 18 fixture against the 05ers was postponed.
- Union have lost all of their games against top-six sides comfortably this campaign. RBL won 3-0 when the teams faced each other earlier in the season in Berlin.
- Kevin Behrens and left-back Robin Gosens have been FCU’s biggest attacking threats in 2023/24. However, Behrens scored all four of his goals this season in the first two matchdays. The striker’s 16-game goalless run started when Union played Leipzig back in September.
Statistics
- Most goals: Kevin Behrens and Robin Gosens (4 goals each)
- Most assists: Aissa Laidouni and Kevin Volland (3 assists each)
- Most goal contributions: Kevin Volland (2 goals / 3 assists)
- Clean sheets: Frederik Rönnow (3) – 32 goals conceded
Squad
Transfer market
Union have secured the services of Kevin Vogt in the winter transfer window. The 32-year-old made the switch from Bundesliga rivals TSGHoffenheim and has been operating as the central defender in a back three. His arrival has given the side a lot of much-needed stability.
FCU have also signed ChrisBedia to give themselves more flexibility up front. Bedia scored 16 goals in 29 appearances for Swiss side ServetteFC in the first half of the season. The attacker’s arrival has become even more important following SheraldoBecker’s transfer to Real Sociedad and David Datro Fofana’s loan move being cut short by parent club Chelsea.
Leonardo Bonucci (Fenerbahce), Laurenz Dehl (Austria Klagenfurt), Aljoscha Kemlein (loaned to FC St. Pauli), Yannic Stein (loaned to VfB Lübeck) and Keita Endo (loaned to FC Tokyo) have also departed the club in January.
Key players
- FrederikRönnow has been Union’s Mr. Reliable in between the posts for a long time. The Dane has returned to form after struggling at the start of the season. The 31-year-old also signed a contract extension with the club recently.
- Since arriving at the club in summer 2020, RobinKnoche has been one of FCU’s key men at the back. The 31-year-old is vastly experienced in the Bundesliga and fills a crucial role in the Eisern’s three-man backline.
- RobinGosens was one of the highest-profile signings in the Bundesliga when he made the switch to Union from Inter Milan and has made the left-wing-back spot his own in Berlin. The Germany international is one of his side’s mostdangerousattackingthreats and has bagged four goals for himself this season.
- Benedict Hollerbach has benefitted from the recent change of coach and has seen a big increase in his gametime since the end of November. He has scored three goals in his last five Bundesliga appearances, including the winner in last weekend’s clash with Darmstadt.
Absentees
- Union currently have no definite absentees, but multiple players are a doubt having recently been unavailable. That includes right-back Josip Juranovic (muscle injury), left-back Jerome Roussillon (unknown injury) and forward Kevin Volland (head injury).
Head coach
- Nenad Bjelica took over from Urs Fischer as 1. FC Union Berlin boss at the end of November, with the side on a winless run of 14 competitive games. The Croatian Bjelica picked up some experience of German football during his playing career at 1. FC Kaiserslautern between 2001 and 2004.
Bjelica began his coaching career at FC Kärnten in 2007. After various spells in Austria, he also spent time at Spezia in Italy, Lech Poznań in Poland, Dinamo Zagreb and NK Osijek in Croatia and Trabzonspor in Turkey. Union is his first coaching position in Germany.
Bjelica won two league titles and one cup in Croatia during his time at Dinamo Zagreb. Both Dani Olmoand former RBL defender Josko Gvardiol played under him during this spell.
The 52-year-old has established a defensive style of play at Union and made conceding as few goals as possible the priority. Bjelica will not be on the touchline for the game on Sunday, as he is suspended for violent conduct against Bayern’s Leroy Sane. Marie-Louise Eta, Danijel Jumic and Nino Bule will be there in his place.
An interesting fact is that Marie-Louise Eta also spent time last year with RB Leipzig and Marco Rose’s coaching team.
RBL’s record against Union
Head-to-head
- 7 wins, 1 draw, 6 defeats – 26:17 goal record
- 5 home wins, 2 away wins
- Top scorers: Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen (3 goals each)
- Biggest win: 4-0 on 18th August 2019 (Goals: Halstenberg, Sabitzer, Werner, Nkunku)
The last five meetings
- 3rd September 2023 | Bundesliga, Matchday 3: 1. FC Union Berlin – RB Leipzig 0-3
- 11th Februar 2023 | Bundesliga, Matchday 20: RB Leipzig – 1. FC Union Berlin 1-2
- 20th August 2022 | Bundesliga, Matchday 3: 1. FC Union Berlin – RB Leipzig 2-1
- 23rd April 2022 | Bundesliga, Matchday 31: RB Leipzig – 1. FC Union Berlin 1-2
- 20th April 2022 | DFB-Pokal, semi-final: RB Leipzig – 1. FC Union Berlin 2-1