Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Union Berlin vs. Union SG - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 7 March 2023, 09:16
After being paired together in the group stage earlier this season, Union Berlin will go head-to-head with Union SG for a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

The first leg will be played at Stadion An de Alten Forsterei on Thursday, with the return leg taking place in Belgium next week.

Match preview

This is unchartered waters for both clubs, who have already made it further than ever before in any European competition in their respective histories, with Union Berlin's previous best effort coming with a second round defeat in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup.

Despite finishing second to their forthcoming opponents in Group D, head coach Urs Fischer will sense a serious opportunity to reach the last eight of the Europa League, with his side entering the tie as favourites to progress.

Having seen their Bundesliga title charge derailed by a winless streak of three matches in recent weeks, Die Eisernen are set to throw everything at this competition, as they look to qualify for the Champions League through either their league position or winning Europe's secondary trophy.

Their 3-1 win against Ajax on home territory in the previous round will undoubtedly have significantly boosted their confidence of making it far, but they will almost certainly be pushing hard for a first leg lead for them to protect in Belgium next week.

Union SG, meanwhile, have made a similarly remarkable rise in recent seasons, having only achieved their first promotion to Belgium's top flight for 48 years at the end of 2020-21 campaign.

Les Unionistes subsequently became the first team in Belgian history to finish top of the table at the end of the regular season directly after promotion, although they missed out on claiming their first top-flight title since 1935 after finishing second to Club Brugge in the end of season play-offs.

While they still retain aspirations of going one better domestically this season, head coach Karel Geraerts will be desperate to build on topping their Europa League group prior to the World Cup by progressing beyond Union Berlin at the last-16 stage.

Having already beaten them once at Stadion An de Alten Forsterei this season, Geraerts will have every confidence that his players can deliver a positive result in Germany's capital on Thursday to set themselves up nicely for the return leg at Joseph Marien Stadium next week.

Union Berlin Europa League form:

W

W

W

W

D

W

Union Berlin form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

L

D

Union SG Europa League form:

W

W

W

D

W

L

Union SG form (all competitions):

W

W

D

L

L

W

Team News

Union Berlin will remain without Andras Schafer due to a foot injury, with the Hungary midfielder facing a race against time to be fit before the international break later this month.

Niko Giesselmann and Jerome Roussillon both missed their side's 0-0 draw against FC Koln at the weekend due to knocks, but the duo should be available for selection on Thursday, especially for a match of such magnitude.

Fischer's biggest dilemma will be whether to restore Jordan Siebatcheu to his starting XI at the expense of Kevin Behrens, with neither forward scoring in any of their last six appearances in all competitions.

Union SG, meanwhile, may travel without Dennis Eckert Ayensa due to a muscle strain, but otherwise Geraerts appears to have a fully fit squad at his disposal.

Victor Boniface is likely to replace Gustaf Nilsson in attack after only being used from the bench during their 2-1 victory against Eupen at the weekend, with the Nigeria forward scoring three goals in five starts during the group stage.

Union Berlin possible starting lineup:

Ronnow; Doekhi, Knoche, Leite; Juranovic, Thorsby, Khedira, Haberer, Roussillon; Siebatcheu, Becker

Union SG possible starting lineup:

Moris; Sykes, Burgess, Van Der Heyden; Lapoussin, Lynen, Teuma, Amani, Adingra; Vertessen, Boniface

We say: Union Berlin 1-0 Union SG

Both meetings at the group stage ended 1-0 to the away team, but we can envisage a reverse scoreline on Thursday, with Union Berlin likely to be able to keep their opponents at arms' length.

The two managers deploy very similar formations with an emphasis on remaining compact out of possession, so it may not be a match for the purists to savour. However, the home fans will be roaring their team onto unprecedented success, with Union SG potentially having to settle for keeping the tie alive heading into the second leg.

Previews by email

Top News

13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Just over 24 hours after taking over as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has reportedly already been handed his first injury blow. 13 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iraq will welcome Jordan to the Basra International Stadium for Thursday's meeting in the Asian section of 2026 World Cup qualifying. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The action resumes in Group L of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as Burundi and Malawi go head to head at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted his target of reaching 1,000 career goals may be beyond him, as his career begins to wind down, raising questions about whether he could retire in the near future. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Insiders from Premier League clubs have reportedly blamed Thomas Tuchel and the FA for the huge spike in injury withdrawals from the upcoming England squad this month. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liechtenstein will travel to the Ta' Qali National Stadium on Thursday to take on Malta in an international friendly. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi is set to captain Argentina when they travel to Asuncion to face Paraguay in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Thursday night. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Journalist and Arsenal expert Charles Watts cannot see a way back for Premier League referee David Coote if the alleged unverified video of him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp is genuine. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has dropped a hint about his future at the club, with contract talks said to be ongoing between the two parties. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's new manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly been handed an early transfer blow, with Bayern Munich stating that Leroy Sane is not for sale this January. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus with the view of signing the player next summer. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Manchester City enter November's international break in the 2024-25 campaign sitting five points adrift of early leaders Liverpool after 11 matches played. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they have entered the international break on the back of losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time since 2006 and for the first time ever under manager Pep Guardiola. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are not expected to respond to the emergence of an apparently damning video of Premier League referee David Coote in which the official made insulting and derisive comments regarding former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp until the PGMOL complete their investigation into the incident. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will have goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez available for selection again when they face Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly interested in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a replacement for Ederson. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Villarreal head coach Marcelino has attempted to play down speculation linking the club with Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Goncalo Guedes. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the AFC FIFA World Cup qualifying Group B table come together on Thursday afternoon when Kuwait host group-leaders South Korea. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nigeria will hope to secure their spot in the 2025 African Cup of Nations when they face Benin at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil will be without Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Eder Militao for their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier away in Venezuela on Thursday after both suffered first-half injuries in the win over Osasuna on Saturday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to enter the market for a new centre-back during the January transfer window. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After a promising set of results in October, Brazil return to action in World Cup qualifying when they travel to Maturin to face Venezuela on Thursday. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to close the gap on the top two places in Group A, Qatar will host second-placed Usbekistan at the Khalifa International Stadium for an AFC World Cup qualifying clash on Thursday afternoon. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal dropped two points rather than gaining one in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but there were signs of the "old" Gunners team in West London. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have been punished for failing to adequately replace their most "important player" Martin Odegaard when the Norwegian was out with an ankle injury, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After making a fine start to their latest UEFA Nations League campaign, just one more point would ensure Italy qualify for the quarter-finals on Thursday, when they visit Belgium in Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium's task will be perfectly clear on Thursday evening, as they must win to stay in contention for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals when welcoming Italy to Brussels. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified a Benfica defender as a potential transfer target for 2025. 12 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to return to winning ways following difficult matches during the October international window, Armenia and the Faroe Islands will lock horns in Yerevan for a UEFA Nations League C clash on Thursday night.