The Stadion An der Alten Försterei will have a capacity crowd once again as 1. FC Union Berlin host 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga on Friday evening.
Review — The last match:
Urs Fischer’s men suffered defeat at champions Bayern Munich before the league took a pause for the international break. Robert Lewandowski scored two, while Kingsley Coman and Tanguy Nianzou hit goals as the Bavarians ran out 4-0 winners. However, Union made a bright start to the game and with a clinical touch in front of goal would have found themselves in front. Sheraldo Becker and Taiwo Awoniyi created chances to good effect but Manuel Neuer wasn’t beaten. Despite the defeat, Union won the battle in the stands with 1,400 travelling supporters singing throughout the 90 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Köln — Opposition Report:
Former Union striker Steffen Baumgart has impressed following his appointment as head coach of 1. FC Köln. Baumgart and the Billy Goats are already at the 40-point mark, two ahead of Union in the Bundesliga and four points behind Hoffenheim who occupy a European spot at the moment. Köln have a good balance between home and away form, winning their last Bundesliga match, a local derby at the home of Bayer Leverkusen. The teams met in November with Anthony Modeste scoring two of his 15 Bundesliga goals this season to make it a 2-2 draw at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion.
Köln — The coach’s view:
Urs Fischer said: “They’ve had tight results, but they are doing really well. They have up front two clear target men, they come forom wide and put in dangerous crosses with presence in the box. That’s something to keep in our head, not allowing that. As such, Köln are doing well.”
Personnel:
Grischa Prömel returns having sat out a suspension last time out in Munich. Andreas Luthe hasn’t been able to complete training recently due to a muscle problem. Anthony Ujah is sick, but a PCR test has come back negative.
Service:
Friday’s game will go ahead at the Alte Försterei without any health and safety restrictions in place. For the first time since the derby win over Hertha, Union’s home match will be held in front of a capacity 22,012 crowd.
The last opportunity for Union members to purchase a ticket is through the Secondary Market.