1. FC Union is threatened with its eighth defeat in a row – that would be a record. Will the turnaround be successful in the duel with the in-form Stuttgart team?
Five facts about the game
1. FC Union has lost its last seven competitive games. An eighth defeat would see them level with a 19-year-old negative record. In 2004, the Köpenick team lost seven regional league games and one cup game in a row
VfB is one of Köpenicker’s favorite opponents. Union has been unbeaten in eight competitive games against the Swabians. Union has already conceded 14 goals this season – more than ever before after seven match days in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart has had a historic start to the season. With 18 points after seven matchdays, VfB has its best Bundesliga record of all time. On Saturday (3:30 p.m.) there will be a reunion with old acquaintances: Genki Haraguchi moved from Union to VfB in January 2023, and Jamie Leweling was also loaned to Stuttgart by the Berliners for a season
The opponent check
This is how things work in sport at VfB
The people of Stuttgart seem to be hard to stop at the moment. With a club record of 18 points after seven matchdays, the Swabians are in second place in the table, and recently they even had five wins in a row. “Now I know a bit how a Bayern Munich fan feels when he wins every game. I just don’t know how to deal with it. For us it’s unreal and like a dream,” explains the VfB expert Andreas Zweigle.
He has been reporting in a blog for almost ten years about his favorite club, which during this time was always playing against relegation in the Bundesliga. But this year they already have two points more than in the entire first half of last season. For Zweigle, one event in particular brought about the turning point: “The decisive factor was certainly the change of coach from Labbadia to Hoeneß.”
Ex-Hertha player Sebastian Hoeneß took over as coach from Bruno Labbadia in April and has since led VfB on an impressive winning streak. There were only three defeats among the 20 players under the new coach (13 wins, 4 draws). “If you look at what Hoeneß has achieved since he started at VfB and how many games he has won, then he has to be the deciding factor. Because the team is almost the same as last year,” explains Zweigle. “Suddenly there is a culture of play and a completely different system. They play beautifully and try to combine into the penalty area. There are few long balls and underdog football.”
That moves the fans
Even if it’s so nice right now, the VfB fans don’t really trust the roast yet. “Everyone is asking themselves how long this will last. You vacillate between the euphoria of the start of the season and the worry that it could all be over soon,” explains Zweigle. Two factions have now formed among the supporters. Some look up and wait euphorically to see where the successful journey could lead. The others – similar to 1. FC Union – focus primarily on the magical 40-point mark, which probably means safe relegation. “But I don’t think anyone is really thinking about relegation right now,” says the VfB expert.
Kevin Behrens celebrates his debut in the national team
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Union has to pay attention to these players
There can only be one possible candidate at the moment: Serhou Guirassy. Before the international break, the VfB striker scored a hat trick to help his team win against VfL Wolfsburg, continuing his incredible form. He scored 13 goals in the first seven games of the season, setting a new Bundesliga record. “He’s on a run and the ball just has to get close to him and he’ll score a goal. Of course, Guirassy refines everything, but from my point of view there are more factors,” explains Zweigle.
For example, the incredibly strong Chris Führich. There has been an explosion in performance from the attacker and he has impressed with two goals and five assists so far this season. This gave him – just like Union striker Kevin Behrens – his debut in the national team’s jersey on the DFB’s trip to the US. “He’s having a great season, is very stable and – unlike before – makes almost no wrong decisions on the field,” analyzes the VfB blogger.
Zweigle also has words of praise for Stuttgart’s new keeper. Alexander Nübel was loaned from FC Bayern this season and replaced the sold Florian Müller in goal. “It’s a completely different quality. If someone runs towards the goal alone, you think: Nübel will stop him anyway.”
The voices of the trainers
Urs Fischer: “Stuttgart is currently in the flow. They are very stable and compact, have a clear plan and try to stress the opponent. They are dangerous when they can turn it up and have players who are very good at one-on-one This is what needs to be prevented. In addition, with Guirassy, they have a difference player in their ranks who needs to be eliminated collectively. (…) In recent years we have actually always used the words ‘surreal’ and ‘madness’ . Maybe we need to use the word ‘reality’ now that we find ourselves in.”
Sebastian Hoeneß: “We can influence whether we extend the Union series. I’m sure that Union has big plans, they have a lot to offer. Some players are now coming back who are important for the structure. In the seven games they have only deserved to lose once, even if it was unfortunate – and that was against Real Madrid. The series is a bit deceptive. We have to give them the feeling through our behavior that it will continue in the same way .”
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After his much-discussed move from Hertha BSC to Union Berlin, Lucas Tousart has found a new footballing home in Köpenick. Despite the series of defeats, he praises his new club – and gratefully accepts the longer commute. By Anton Fahlmore
This is how Union could play
After a long injury break, coach Urs Fischer can count on two top performers again on Saturday. Midfielder Rani Khedira and central defender Robin Knoche are again options for the starting eleven. Both could bring the currently missing stability back into the team.
National players Robin Gosens and Kevin Behrens are also back with the team. The latter made his brief debut in the DFB jersey on Wednesday night against Mexico (2-2) (substitution in the 87th minute). Gosens played in both of the German team’s games during the US trip, but had to leave the field early against the Mexicans due to muscular problems.
However, coach Urs Fischer gave the all-clear before the game against Stuttgart: “That looks good. He will regenerate. The same applies to Kevin Behrens because it was a long journey back.” The two will probably play an important role again on Saturday.
Union’s possible starting eleven: Rönnow – Doekhi, Knoche, Diogo Leite – Gosens, Khedira, Trimmel – Tousart, Haberer – Becker, Behrens
Prognosis
With a defeat against Stuttgart, 1. FC Union would equal the 19-year-old negative record from the regional league era. And that in the first Champions League season in the club’s history. The An der Alten Försterei stadium also recently turned out to be no longer the fortress it was last season.
But the international break could also be a kind of fresh start for the Berliners. The team had time to collect themselves, regroup and shake off the negative feelings of past defeats and with Knoche and Khedira two important players are back. Even if Stuttgart, a team in top form and with the best striker in the Bundesliga, comes to Köpenick, it will finally be time for a point again on Saturday.
The editor’s tip: 1:1.
The opponent expert’s tip: “I would bet on 2-2. Union takes a 2-0 lead and then Guirassy scores two goals,” says VfB expert Zweigle.
Broadcast: rbb24, October 19, 2023, 6 p.m
