Union Berlin vs. St. Pauli: DFB Cup quarter-final probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog

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Coach Urs Fischer and the entire Union set-up breathed a sigh of relief at the weekend when The Irons put a three-game Bundesliga losing streak behind them with a convincing 3-1 win at home to Mainz - Awoniyi ending a seven-game club drought - that revived hopes of a return to European competition next season. The DFB Cup also offers that prospect, with Union having reached this quarter-final tie following victories against Waldhof Mannheim and neighbours Hertha Berlin in previous rounds. Midfielders Andras Schäfer (knee) and Keita Endo (leg) missed the win against Mainz at the weekend while defender Dominique Heintz has only recently returned to training following a back complaint. The Berliners are competing at the quarter-final stage for a second successive season and their fans are beginning to dream of a first final appearance since 2001.

Pauli also appear to have returned to form just in time for their visit to the German capital. Timo Schultz's side needed to react to a recent 3-0 Bundesliga 2 defeat at home to Hannover. They did so at the weekend, remaining among the group of five at the top separated by just three points by putting lowly Ingolstadt to the sword with 17-goal top scorer Burgstaller again among the goals. The veteran forward is also the Kiezkicker's top marksman in the DFB Cup and will be key to his side's attacking plan as they look to trouble another top-flight side, Pauli having famously ousted holders Borussia Dortmund in the last round. Swedish defender Sebastian Ohlsson missed out at the weekend with a knee injury while Etienne Amenyido (calf) and James Lawrence (back) are doubts for the trip to Berlin. Philipp Ziereis has recovered from muscular problems and is available having come off the bench on Saturday.

Match stats

Awoniyi is Union's 15-goal top scorer across all competitions in 2021/22, including one in the second round. Kevin Behrens is the only Eiserner on more than one in this year's DFB Cup, with two.

Union have reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for just the third time. They were eliminated at this stage by Bayer Leverkusen in 2019/20, but reached the final in 2000/01 as a third-tier club, losing to Schalke but still qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

The Berliners have lost their last seven DFB Cup games at home by an aggregate score of 26-5. Their last victory in the competition at the Alte Försterei came over Duisburg in August 2001 (1-0) - the season of their only previous European campaign before this.

Burgstaller is Pauli's top scorer in the DFB Cup this season with two goals. He also leads the scoring chart in Bundesliga 2 with 17.

This is Die Kiezkicker's fifth appearance in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, and first since 2005/06. That was also the only time they've gone further, ultimately losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the semis.

Pauli won the only previous DFB Cup meeting with Union (3-2 in 1994/95) and the most recent encounter by the same score in the 2018/19 Bundesliga 2 campaign. But they trail the overall head-to-head with eight wins to 11 (plus six draws).

Probable line-ups

Union: Luthe - Baumgartl, Knoche, Heintz - Ryerson, Khedira, Prömel (c), Oczipka - Becker, Michel - Awoniyi

Out: -

Doubtful: Endo (leg), Schäfer (knee)

Coach: Urs Fischer

Pauli: Vasilj - Zander, Dzwigala, Medic, Paqarada (c) - Irvine, Smith, Hartel - Kyereh - Burgstaller, Dittgen

Out: Avevor (ankle), Wieckhoff (knee), Ohlsson (knee)

Doubtful: Amenyido (calf), Lawrence (knock), Ziereis (back)

Coach: Timo Schultz