1. FC Union Berlin are back from European adventures, but will need to focus on league action quickly as Urs Fischer’s side head to Hoffenheim on Sunday at 15:30.
Review: The last match
The Köpenick club’s first European match since 2001 ended in celebrations at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki. Union ran out 4-0 winners against Finland’s domestic cup winners, KuPS, with goals from Taiwo Awoniyi, Max Kruse and Andreas Voglsammer. The Nigerian scored again after seven minutes, following up on his first league goal against Leverkusen. Kruse and Awoniyi both netted again within a minute of each other on the half-hour mark. Substitutes Cedric Teuchert and Voglsammer combined in the last minute to add a fourth with the former Bielefeld man tapping home into an empty net. The second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off is next Thursday at 20:15.
Hoffenheim: Opposition Report
If the league table now is the order in May, then Hoffenheim will be delighted. Hoffenheim’s three points and four goals at Augsburg put them second in the Bundesliga behind VfB Stuttgart after the first 90 minutes of action. Sebastian Hoeneß’s team looked free-flowing and dangerous in attack, which will be a test of Urs Fischer’s squad on Sunday. Jacob Bruun Larsen scored in the first half for Hoffenheim, but the other goals had to wait until later on. Substitutes Sargis Adamyan and Georginio Rutter scored late on before Sebastian Rudy rounded off a productive afternoon for Hoffenheim in the last minute.
Hoffenheim: The manager’s view
Fischer: “Hoffenheim have started really well with the win at Augsburg. Across the seasons, Hoffenheim haven’t lost any of their last 9 matches. It will be a hard game. They have quality, pace and robustness, they are compact and can play. They can play with long balls because they have so much pace as well. A very difficult game.”
Personnel
Urs Fischer gave an update on the fitness of Fabio Schneider and Grischa Prömel at the pre-match press conference. Prömel completed full training with the squad on Saturday, while Schneider is still working towards full fitness on his own. Both are unavailable for the trip to Hoffenheim.
Service
Union will be backed by 200 supporters in Hoffenheim with restrictions and testing rules in place at the PreZero Arena.