After two winless games in a row, the women’s team of 1. FC Union Berlin is looking to set that right this Sunday as, for the 11th matchday of the Regionalliga Nordost, they travel to play Bischofswerdaer FV. Kick off is at 14:00.
The Opponents
The women’s team from Bischofswerda have been in the Regionalliga since 2017, and in those five years have always achieved mid-table safety, neither troubling to promotion spot, nor really troubled by the dangers of relegation, and they have carried this consitency over into this season. After ten games, the Saxon team has three wins (including last weekend’s 3-1 win against Blau-Weiss Hohen Neuendorf), four draws and three defeats. Prior to that victory they held Union’s last opponents, FC Carl Zeiss Jena II, to a 2-2 draw.
Union need to be wary of centre forward Anna Salzmann in particular. The 28-year-old has already scored eight goals this season, almost half of the team’s 19 goals.
This solid work in Bischofswerda is certainly allied to their coaching staff. Head coach Tino Gottlöber is celebrating his tenth year in charge of the women’s division, and has been an ever present on the touchlines of the LaOla-Bolzplatz Bischofswerda (the club’s winter pitch, where this fixture will take place) ever since the club was founded in 2012.
The head to head
The record between the two clubs so far reads somewhat clearly in Union’s favour, with six wins from six, and a goal difference of 24-2.
Those two goals came only in Union’s 6-2 victory, the last time the sides met, about a year ago, though the Saxons took an early lead in that game and went into the break at 2-2. In the second half, however, Union were decisive, with the scorer of a brace last weekend, Union’s captain, Lisa Heiseler, scoring four. Megan Reichenbach and Latoya Bach put away the others.
The coach’s views ahead of the game
“Bischofswerdaer, in eighth, have always been able to find gaps, and often score goals out of their own good defence on the break. Because of the venue in Bischofswerda, we will also be training specifically on artificial turf to be well prepared for the match,” explained Union head coach Ailien Poese.
Meanwhile, the Union women’s physio’s have been ever busier since the 3-3 draw against Jena II at the Alte Försterei on Sunday. Midfielder Pauline Wimmer, who had to be substituted after 40 minutes due to injury, is out for the long term. Marie Becker, Celine Frank and Zita Rurack, meanwhile, are also still missing. Anouk Westphal, Chayenne Krebs and Hannah Kratz are also absent due to illness, and there are question marks over the fitness of both Heiseler and Naika Reissner. At least Latoya Bach and Sophie Trojahn were able to return to training this week after being absent due to illness.