Next Tuesday, the women’s team of 1. FC Union Berlin will face FSV Gütersloh 2009 in the first round of the DFB Pokal. Kick off at the Ohlendorf Stadium in the Heidewald in Gütersloh is at 18:30.
The lie of the land
Gütersloh, who have been in the second division for many years, are coming off the back of a more than respectable pre-season that started with a 1-0 win against Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the end of June. This was followed by further victories against SSV Rhade (5-1), 1. FC Köln’s and SGS Essen’s U-20’s (3-0 and 3-1, respectively), though some of the shine came off this with their 8-0 defeat away Twente Enschede a week and a half ago. To complete their preparations for the start of the season, FSV took part in a quick-fire tournament last weekend, which they won with victories against Hannover 96 (2-1) and Arminia Bielefeld (3-0).
With four wins from five pre-season matches, Union team can also look back on a good pre-season, recording successes against higher-class opponents such as Polish champions Pogoń Szczecin and last year’s Bundesliga fourth-placed team SGS Essen among others. Their only defeat came against Werder Bremen in the official season opener at the Alte Försterei.
The opponents
FSV Gütersloh, as well their predecessors FC Gütersloh, have been a fixture in the women’s 2. Bundesliga ever since it was founded in 2004, playing in the second tier in 19 of the last 20 seasons. The only absence was when they Gütersloh played in the Bundesliga in the 2012/13 season, but they were relegated straight away. The second division veterans finished in seventh place last season. Gütersloh have reached at least the 2nd round of the Cup every season since 2006.
The East Westphalians have reorganised their coaching staff for the new season. Britta Hainke left the club after two years to be replaced by Daniel Fröhlich in the summer. The 42-year-old had previously coached SC Verl’s U19s for eight years.
The head to head
The two clubs have met four times in the 2. Liga, with FSV winning all of them. The teams also met in the first round of the DFB Pokal 2009 when Gütersloh came out on top with a clear 10-0 victory.
Personnel
Head coach Ailien Poese will be without Maria Cristina Lange on Tuesday evening.
The coach’s views ahead of the game
‘We’re looking forward to ending our preparations and playing against a Gütersloh side who have always been involved in the promotion race in the 2. Bundesliga in recent years,” said Union’s head coach, Ailien Poese, ahead of the first competitive game of the season. “The opponent’s determined, hard-fought and intense style of play will be the first challenge of the new season, which we want to meet with determination, defensive stability and go toe-to-toe with in order to advance to the second round of Cup.’
Service information
Kick off at at the Ohlendorf Stadium in Heidewald, which has a capacity of 8,400, is at 18:30. Tickets are available via the FSV online shop, there will not be a designated away block. There will also be a ticket office open on match day.
The match will be broadcast live, as SKY’s top match of the first round. Following the final whistle, the draw for the 2nd round will also take place on site.