A Trip to Thuringen

This coming Sunday, 15.10.2023, 1. FC Union Berlin travel to play 1. FFV Erfurt in their 7th matchday of the Regionalliga Nordost season. Kick off at the main pitch at Johannesplatz in Erfurt is at 14:00.

The opponents

1. FFV Erfurt, who have been playing in the Regionalliga Nordost since 2019, finished 8th in the table last season under the leadership of head coach Gino Heinze – one of the longest-serving coaches in the league, he has been in office since 2015. The team ultimately secured their place above the relegation places by a three-point margin.

Due to a number of postponements, the Erfurt side have only played four league games so far this season, from which they have collected four points. After the 3-0 opening win at Berolina Mitte, they were beaten 2-0 by Hertha BSC at home. This was followed by a 2-2 draw against Magdeburger FFC, before their last league match, which is now almost a month ago, in which they narrowly lost 3-2 to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam II.

In the first round of the Thuringia Pokal, Erfurt won 13-0 against the Verbandsliga side FC Thüringen Weida a week and a half ago. Last season, 1. FFV Erfurt reached the final of the state cup, losing on penalties to FC Carl Zeiss Jena II. Despite the defeat, the Erfurt women qualified for the DFB Pokal, as Jena’s second team were ineligible. In the 1st round, however, Erfurt were knocked out, losing 1-0 to FSV Mainz 05 from the Regionalliga Südwest.

The head to head

After 18 encounters between the two clubs, the balance is quite clear. Union have won 14 times, 1. FFV Erfurt three times, and there’s been one draw. Erfurt’s last victory dates back to 2011.

Last season, Union won both encounters by a clear margin. The first 4-0, the second 7-1 at home. Before that though was a far tighter match in October 2021, when Union narrowly prevailed 5-4 despite leading 3-0 at one stage.

Personnel

Head coach Ailien Poese will be without five players on Sunday due to injury: Luca Scheel, Elisa Schindler, Pauline Wimmer, Zita Rurack and Anna Weiß.

The coach’s view ahead of the match

“Erfurt are a compact team that can always break quickly and have the ability to surprise anyone,” said Union’s head coach, Ailien Poese. “For us, it means going into the game with full focus and having prepared well in training.” said Union head coach Ailien Poese ahead of the match.

Service info

The match will kick off on Sunday at 14:00 on the grass pitch of the main pitch Johannesplatz (Friedrich-Engels-Straße 50A, 99086 Erfurt).