On Sunday, 22 October 2023, 1. FC Union Berlin’s high-flying women’s team will host Magdeburger FFC in their eighth game of the Regionalliga Nordost season. Kick off at the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz in Dörpfeldstraße is at 14:00

The opponents

Magdeburger FFC, who have been playing in the Regionalliga Nordost since 2015, finished 5th in the table last season when the young team of head coach Alexander Auer, on the touchlines since 2021, were particularly convincing in front of goal. With 71 scored, the Magdeburg women were only two behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig II. In the summer, however, they lost a key player in the shape of 17-year-old Melina Krüger - the club's best striker last season with 18 goals - joined Hamburger SV, following their promotion to the second division.

After eight games, Magdeburg are currently in 6th place with ten points. Their most recent victory was a 3-1 home win against Bischofswerdaer FV last weekend. Meanwhile, Magdeburg are still waiting for their first win away from home this season, having only managed to pick up one point on the road so far, a 2-2 draw against 1. FFV Erfurt on matchday three.

It will also be interesting to see how Magdeburg deal with the tight schedule this week. Before Sunday’s clash, they have to face SG Union Sandersdorf in the Saxony-Anhalt Cup on Friday evening. Just one and a half days later, Magdeburg have to play in Köpenick, 180 kilometres away.

The head to head

The two clubs know each other well, having already met 23 times. With 15 victories, Union women have the better record compared to Magdeburg’s five wins. Three games have ended in a draw.

Last season, however, Magdeburger FFC handed their hosts their first Regionalliga defeat of the season when they beat Union 4-2 in front of their home crowd. After Union had taken the lead, the hosts turned the game around to make it 3-1 at the break. Although Union managed to score immediately after the restart, a lightning Magdeburg counter-attack in the final quarter of an hour sealed Union’s first league defeat under head coach Ailien Poese.

In the return match in Köpenick, however, Union took revenge, winning 4-1 thanks to four second half goals.

The personnel

Poese will be without five players on Sunday. Luca Scheel, Elisa Schindler, Pauline Wimmer, Zita Rurack and Anna Weiß are all injured and unable to play.

The coach’s views ahead of the match

"Magdeburg haven’t had the best possible start to the season,” said head coach Poese during the week.  “But they have always showed themselves to be a strong and determined team. For us, that means remaining focused in both defence and attack in order to get the next three points at home."

Service info

Kick off at the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz in Dörpfeldstraße on Sunday is at 14:00. Admission is free.