1. FC Union Berlin were held to a 0-0 draw by Dynamo Dresden at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion.
Joshua Mees had the best chance for the Köpenick club in the third minute, but Urs Fischer's team were unable to find the cutting edge after the break.
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Hübner, Friedrich, Reichel; Kroos (Zulj 83), Schmiedebach, Prömel; Andersson (Polter 76), Gogia (Hartel 68), Mees
Union started the match in Dresden with four changes to the side from last week. Christopher Lenz (neck) and Suleiman Abdullahi (muscle strain) dropped out through injury, while Carlos Mane and Robert Zulj took their spot on the bench. Fischer restored Ken Reichel to left-back, brought Felix Kroos back into midfield and started with Akaki Gogia and Joshua Mees in attack. The two, who supported Sebastian Andersson, were involved in Union’s best move of the half as early as the third minute. Reichel cut the ball inside to Mees and his shot was saved by Markus Schubert, before Gogia missed the rebound. Union looked in control of the tempo, passing the ball around and looking for the opening in the Dresden defence. On 19 minutes, Schubert saved well with his feet to deny Andersson who combined cleverly with Mees on the edge of the box. The Köpenick club threatened before the interval from set-piece situations, but Florian Hübner headed both his efforts over the crossbar.
Former Dynamo Dresden player Gogia threatened at the start of the second half. He squeezed a pass through for Andersson, three minutes in, but the Swede hit the side netting with the finish. Andersson attacked another Gogia cross at the front post despite the Dresden back line giving him little space. That was Gogia’s last action of the half as he came off for Hartel, while Polter replaced Andersson about 10 minutes later. With a few uncompromising challenges around the midway point, the head was turned up a little. Dresden appeared to take more risks going forward and could have scored. Berko ran clear in the 76th minute and had two options ahead of him, but he picked Baris Atik who lost the ball under pressure from the recovering Union defence. Zulj replaced Kroos for the final eight minutes, but the Köpenick club couldn’t break down the home side and will take a point back to the capital.
1. FC Union Berlin return to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Friday April 12 when SSV Jahn Regensburg are the visitors in a crucial 2.Bundesliga clash. The game is sold out, but the secondary ticket market is open for supporters still interested in purchasing tickets. A number of VIP seats remain available.
Union Berlin make away trip to Dynamo Dresden
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin and SG Dynamo Dresden meet this Sunday (April 7) in an eagerly-anticipated encounter at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion in Dresden.
Having suffered successive league defeats, Urs Fischer’s team have the chance to bounce back to winning ways
Review: Home record ends, Dresden in midweek action
Union Berlin’s 20-game unbeaten run at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei came to a close last Saturday when SC Paderborn ran out 3-1 winners. Sebastian Polter’s first goal since his injury in January proved to be simply a consolation as Steffen Baumgart marked his return to Köpenick with a strong showing. “We have something to make up for, at least we have to try anyway, because in the end, it is results that count. We've been badly rewarded in the last two games, the matches were balanced, the team didn't do everything wrong,” coach Urs Fischer said at the pre-match press conference.
Meanwhile, Dynamo Dresden have been busy this week with two games on Monday and Thursday, respectively. Cristian Fiel’s team defeated Erzgebirge Aue 3-1 on Monday night before a goalless draw at Greuther Fürth three days later. The club, which sits 14th in the 2.Bundesliga, dominated on their travels and will be out to win their first home game since November 25 — 2-0 victory against Ingolstadt.
“Up until the first game under Fiel, when they played in a different system, the last games were similar. I assume it will be like this again, so we are prepared for it. When you take the last games, you know what to expect. I have seen a very good Dynamo Dresden side against Aue: very aggressive, very happy to run, very high to press the opponent and put them under pressure, playing some football. Against Fürth it looked similar in the beginning,” said the Union boss.
Record: Long history
“I think it's a special game,” added Fischer. “It’s really a duel, which has a long tradition. It has to be an incentive, but not the only one.”
Union's recent record in Dresden is positive: the Berliners won 1-0 on their last meeting there in May last year. All in all, Union haven't lost in any of their last four encounters in Dresden. The history of this clash does stretch back decades to the first match between the clubs, before their current incarnation, in 1952. Although Dresden would edge the record over Oberliga times, Union have only lost 2 of 11 2.Bundesliga meetings.
Personnel: Strong squad to choose from
Eroll Zejnullahu and Fabian Schönheim are still the current absentees from the squad. Polter returned from his foot injury in the defeat to Paderborn last week. Christopher Lenz has a problem with his neck and is currently doubtful.
Service: Away section sold out
There will be no tickets available at the stadium on Sunday. Union have sold out the away allocation with more than 2,900 supporters expected to attend.
