Nico Schlotterbeck, Christopher Trimmel, Julian Ryerson and Petar Musa were passed fit after national team duty over the last fortnight. The players were treated to a thunderous firework display from outside the stadium grounds as Union started with a purpose and intent. Max Kruse struck on target with Alexander Schwolow making a fine save a few minutes into the game. After 10 minutes, the Hertha goalkeeper was beaten from a second long-range piledriver from the Köpenick club. A second ball fell to Rob Andrich around the edge of the box and the midfielder rifled into Schwolow’s bottom corner with great precision. It was almost two within 13 minutes when Ryerson’s strike came cannoning off the crossbar and Musa blasted the rebound over the target from close range. The team from Charlottenburg threatened with two efforts – a deflected free-kick from Matheus Cunha and a header from Jordan Torunarigha which clipped the bar. Union looked more in control of the derby and referee Sascha Stegemann handed out a yellow card to Matteo Guendouzi after a clash off the ball with Grischa Prömel. The Hertha midfielder won his side a penalty on 35 minutes and Lukebakio sent Andreas Luthe the wrong way from 12 yards. Union responded well to the setback and peppered the Hertha box with shots from range, first via Christian Gentner and then captain Christopher Trimmel who cut inside from the right but saw his effort blocked.
The second half started with the same tenacity and tough tackling as the first 45 minutes: high on effort but low on clear opportunities to score. Union found some joy often through Ryerson who continued his excellent form stepping in at left full-back. Hertha’s first change saw Santiago Ascacibar replace Lukebakio and Pal Dardai’s team reverted back to a 3-5-2, which is normally the starting formation for the team from the Olympic Stadium. Grischa Prömel almost got on the end of Ryerson’s cross from left but it landed inches away from the midfielder’s head. Urs Fischer’s first change after 72 minutes saw the introduction of Marcus Ingvartsen in place of Prömel as the Köpenick club looked for inspiration in the final third. As the match entered the final 10 minutes, Union passed around the Hertha block but Ryerson's fizzed cross into the area trundled away from a red shirt. Christopher Trimmel returned the cross but Musa couldn't add enough power on the header. Joel Pohjanpalo was thrown into the equation after a successful international break with Finland, but the teams shared the derby spoils on Easter Sunday.
1. FC Union Berlin will head to German champions and current league-leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday at 15:30.
Union take on city rivals at home
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin will go up against Hertha Berlin on Sunday at 18:00 at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei — the fourth Bundesliga derby between the two sides.
Review
Urs Fischer's men return from the international break and face their city rivals for three vital points in the battle to stay in the Bundesliga. Despite losing 5-2 at Eintracht Frankfurt after a good performance, Union have been in solid form with the five games previously ending without defeat for the Köpenick club. Max Kruse increased his Bundesliga goal tally to 10 goals for Union Berlin with the brace in Frankfurt, but the rub of the green didn't sit with Fischer's side. With six players on international duty, Union put the squad to the test against Eintracht Braunschweig from the 2.Bundesliga. Suleiman Abdullahi scored twice for the Lions who ran out 2-1 winners with Marius Bülter pegging one back for Union. There was further positives for the coaching staff who handed first-team opportunities to youngsters Malick Sanogo and Mathis Bruns, who both stamped their mark on the game in the last 15 minutes.
Opposition
Hertha are one point above the relegation play-off position in the Bundesliga and will come across the city looking for maximum points. Pal Dardai's team dispatched of Bayer Leverkusen by three goals in their last Bundesliga outing, but on the road Hertha haven't won since the start of November — nine without a victory and one win out of their last 11 away matches in the Bundesliga. Deyoraiso Zeeifuk, Matheus Cunha and Jhon Cordoba hit the net against European-chasing Leverkusen as the pressure of potential relegation was eased temporarily on coach Dardai. Hertha have the slight upper-hand on Union in the Bundesliga, winning 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium against the ten men from Köpenick in December. Despite Taiwo Awoniyi's opener, Hertha turned the game around in the second half with strikes from Peter Pekarik and two from Krzysztof Piatek.
Personnel
Urs Fischer confirmed the absences of Taiwo Awoniyi, Sheraldo Becker and Anthony Ujah at the pre-match press conference. Niko Gießelmann will miss the derby, but is making very good progress in his return from injury. All of the six national team players have returned in good health and are in contention.
Service
Sunday's game goes ahead in Köpenick behind closed doors.
