On Sunday, 13.08.2023, 1. FC Union Berlin will face Regionalliga team FC-Astoria Walldorf in the first round of the men’s DFB Pokal. Kick-off at the Dietmar-Hopp-Sportpark is at 18:00.
The opponents
Though their first predecessor club dates back to 1908, today’s FC-Astoria Walldorf were only founded in 1995, when 1. FC 08 Walldorf merged with the football department of SG Walldorf-Astoria 02. Their first major success was celebrated in the 2006/07 season with promotion to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg. This was followed by promotion to the Regionalliga Südwest in 2014.
The team from Baden have made waves in the Cup in recent years. After qualifying for the first round for the first time in 2014, they even made it to the last 16 two years later with victories against Darmstadt 98 (1-0) and VfL Bochum (4-3 a.e.t.). Ultimately, they were only knocked out by the 2. Liga side, Arminia Bielefeld, on penalties.
The head coach of Walldorf then, as now, was Matthias Born, who is entering his tenth season with FCAW. Last year, his team finished 12th and won the Baden Cup. During the summer break, the 51-year-old strengthened the team, especially in defence, signing right-back Lennart Grimmer (Wormatia Worms), centre-back Emanuel Gstettner (VfB Eichstätt) and junior keeper Jerik von der Felsen, who came from the U19s of Karlsruher SC.
In their pre-season, Walldorf lost friendlies against TSG Hoffenheim, 3-1, and recently relegated third-division team SV Sandhausen (2-1), but they beat Heidelberger SC, 7-0, FC Nöttingen, 3-0, and 1. FC Bruchsal, 8-0. In the local Cup first round, Astoria defeated VfB St. Leon 4-0, and they drew 1-1 with TSG Hoffenheim II on the first day of the Regionalliga season.
Personnel
András Schäfer and Lucas Tousart will not be available on Sunday. A decision will be taken on the availability of Rani Khedira after today’s final training session.
Views ahead of the match
“The cup is the cup,” said a cautiously confident Urs Fischer during his press conference on Friday afternoon. “Walldorf area team that have a good mix. They are capable of finding solutions with the ball, but also of holding their lines every now and then. With Marcel Carl, they have a target player who is good at holding on to balls and laying them off. It will be important to show ourselves on the pitch and to have the right attitude. In the end, it’s first and foremost about progressing, but I do think that the way you perform is always important for us coaches and for the boys.”
“They don’t underestimate anyone, you know that from Union,” said Walldorf coach, Born, meanwhile. “They have a very grounded coach who knows that games like this are not a foregone conclusion, and they will be prepared accordingly. No matter whether it’s against Bayern München or Astoria Walldorf, they don’t leave their principles, their basic order. That’s why they are so successful. It is our job to set the tone, and to play. Of course, on the day we need a team on the pitch that go beyond themselves, then I think it’s difficult for any opponent against us.”
Service info
Around 1,500 Union fans will be there to support their team in Walldorf. Tickets for the away end are no longer available. Information on visiting the stadium in Walldorf can be found here (German). The match will be broadcast live on Sky and on the rbb audio stream. As usual, Union will also provide information on the match via the club’s own live ticker, as well as on Twitter in English and Spanish.