On Sunday, 10.03.2024, the women of 1. FC Union Berlin will play their first match of the second half of the season at 1. FFC Fortuna Dresden in the Regionalliga Nordost. Kick-off at the Wurzener Straße Stadion is at 14:00.
The opponents
The 2023/24 season got off to an extremely positive start for the recently promoted Fortuna Dresden, having returned to the Regionalliga Nordost in the summer after four years away, when they started with a 2-1 win in the Saxony derby against Bischofswerdaer FV. However, head coach Steve Maschik’s young team then failed to collect any more points for three months. The Dresdeners suffered a 12-0 defeat at Viktoria Berlin and were also beaten 3-2 by fellow promoted side Berolina Mitte on matchday 7 despite leading 2-0 at half-time. In the last game of the year, however, FFC pulled off a real surprise with a 3-0 away win at Türkiyemspor Berlin, who had finished third in the previous year.
The Saxons’ aim in the winter was to carry the momentum of this victory into the new year but, although they won their final warm up against Czech second-division side FK Teplice 9-3 in February, they were unable to repeat their success against Bischofswerda last weekend, losing 2-0 to their neighbours, leaving them second bottom of the table with just six points.
With 50 goals conceded, Dresden have the weakest defence in the league and, together with bottom-placed Berolina Mitte, have also scored the fewest goals with nine. The Saxons also have the weakest home record of any team in the Regionalliga Nordost with just three points.
The head to head
Union won the last match between the sides, 6-0. Sarah Abu Sabbah opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour and also scored the third after Athanasia Moraitou made it 2-0. In the second half, Nour Youssef, Celine Frank and Zita Rurack completed the half-dozen.
The two teams have now faced each other 22 times. Union have won 14, Dresden six, and there have been two draws.
The personnel
Head coach Ailien Poese will be without five players on Sunday in Maria Cristina Lange, Pauline Wimmer, Anna Weiß, Nour Youssef and Pia Metzker.
The coach’s view ahead of the game
“We’re delighted that we’re finally back to being challenged in the league again and are looking forward to the trip to Dresden,” said Union’s head coach, Ailien Poese during midweek. “We know that Dresden are always good at closing down spaces and want to be patient and dominate the game and return to Berlin with three points.”
Service information
The game kicks off at 14:00 on Saturday at the Wurzener Straße stadium (Wurzener Straße 20, 01127 Dresden). Admission costs €3.50