On Sunday, 11.02.2024, 1. FC Union Berlin’s women’s team will play a friendly against the 2. Liga newcomers – and leaders – Hamburger SV. Kick off at the Paul-Hauenschild-Sportanlage in Norderstedt is at 15:00.
The opponents
Similarly to 1. FC Union Berlin’s professionalised women’s team, Hamburger SV have also been greatly ambitious in recent years. HSV, who played in the Bundesliga without interruption from 2003 to 2012, harbour plans to return to the top flight, especially having dropped into the fourth-tier Verbandsliga between 2016 and 2019. In the 2021/22 season, the Hanseatic team secured the Regionalliga Nord championship title for the first time, but were beaten by Turbine Potsdam II (1-0, 0-4) over two legs in the play-off for promotion. However, HSV won the league again last season with 25 wins from 26 games leading them to this time face Viktoria Berlin. HSV weren’t to be thwarted this time and won 3-0 and then 3-1 to secure promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.
With promotion secured, HSV are now shaking up the second division, leading the table with 26 points from 13 games, level on points with former champions as recently as 2016 (so, when HSV were in the 4th division), 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam.
The young team of head coach Marwin Bolz (himself only 26 years old), have been particularly strong up front. With 32 goals, HSV have the best attack in the 2. Liga, one based around the skills of the two top scorers in the league. The 21-year-old home-grown talent Larissa Mühlhaus is top of the charts with ten goals for the season, while fellow striker Dana Celine Marquardt has scored seven.
Sunday’s hosts began preparations for the second half of their season on 7. January and have since played three friendlies, kicking off with a 10-1 win against Regionalliga side Holstein Kiel, followed by a 3-2 defeat to Danish first division side Kolding IF and a 4-1 victory against Regionalliga West leaders VfL Bochum last Saturday. The match against Union is HSV’s final test before their league clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 18. February.
The head to head
Almost exactly a year ago to the day, the two teams played a friendly at the same, an evenly matched if scrappy goalless draw. The two clubs have yet to meet in a competitive match.
The coach’s view ahead of the game
“We’re looking forward to playing HSV, who have had an impressive first half of the season in the second division,” said a relaxed Union head coach, Ailien Poese, during the week. “We’re looking forward to a very strong opponent who will certainly demand everything from us,” said head coach Ailien Poese, looking ahead to the upcoming match.
Service information
Kick off at the Paul-Hauenschild-Sportanlage in Norderstedt is at 15:00