Without a single point in the 2.Bundesliga so far, Sandhausen started like a side desperate to bring that run to a close. It was precisely the kind of performance that head coach Urs Fischer predicted in his press conference on Friday: a strong Sandhausen side which was intense and aggressive around winning second balls. In the 12th minute, Maximilian Jansen picked up a loose ball and fired a thumping drive on target, but it was well matched by Rafal Gikiewicz. Union had to wait until the half hour mark to get any joy behind the three-man Sandhausen defence, and unsurprisingly, that was inspired by top scorer Sebastian Andersson who had scored four goals in his last three games. The Swedish striker darted in behind Jesper Verlaat, but found himself at such a tight angle that the finish would have required something special.
The Köpenick side made no changes for the second half and found a little more space on the flanks to put pressure on Kenan Kocak's men. Ken Reichel drove forward with the ball at his feet and hit the target while Kevin Behrens threatened at the other end. The most fluid Union attack of the game was in the 63rd minute with Simon Hedlund coming down the left side, sending the ball across for Robert Zulj, who was matched by Sandhausen keeper Niklas Lomb. Akaki Gogia, Marcel Hartel and Felix Kroos were used from the bench to bring a spark to Union's game, but aside from a half-chance for Grischa Prömel with nine minutes left, the game ended goalless.
"In the end we are satisfied with the point; after 90 minutes the result is just. For me the game was very chaotic, the game was very competitive on both sides, both Sandhausen and we made the spaces very tight. Overall, there was little flow to the game, but still one or two chances to score. Finally, after a balanced game, we take one point to Berlin," said head coach Urs Fischer after the match.
The international break is a welcome opportunity for the players to get some rest from the league schedule. Julian Ryerson, Marcel Hartel and Lennard Maloney will go and represent their national teams over the next couple of weeks, while the rest of the squad will take on Grasshopper Zürich at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Wednesday September 5 at 18:00.
Union travel to Sandhausen
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin are back on the road this weekend with the fourth game of the 2.Bundesliga campaign at SV Sandhausen on Sunday September 2 at 13:30.
Last weekend, Urs Fischer’s team ran out 4-1 winners against FC St. Pauli to go level at the top of the table with 1. FC Köln.
Tricky trip to the south:
Sandhausen are a team known for their solid back four, having conceded the fewest goals in the 2.Bundesliga last season — 33 goals in 34 games. However, Kenan Kocak’s men have conceded seven goals already this campaign, going down 3-1 to Greuther Fürth, 3-0 to Hamburg at home, before last week’s 1-0 loss at VfL Bochum.
But Union head coach Fischer and his players have emphasised that these numbers are just a snapshot. “A more diffiuclt encounter awaits us in Sandhausen. Although they don’t have a point to their name, they will demand everything out of us on Sunday to keep us out,” said Fischer. “We have to go there with the right attitude because we’re under the same pressure and want to win.”
Sandhausen have proven a tricky opponent for Union Berlin at home. Union and Sandhausen have played out one draw and the Köpenick have lost four times at the BWT-Stadion am Hardtwald. At home, the club from the capital have won every time.
Squad situation: no changes compared to a week ago:
Although there is good news on the status of Sebastian Polter and Fabian Schönheim, who returned to team training, they are still on the sidelines for the time being. Suleiman Abdullahi and Joshua Mees increased their training load once more but along with Marc Torrejon, will not be available for selection this weekend.
Ticket information:
Tickets for both the home and away areas of the stadium will be available on site on matchday. Meanwhile, the club’s mobile club shop will be on site between 10.30 and 16.00 on Sunday.
