Despite the recent draw in Gütersloh, SV Meppen were able to make up two important points in the race for promotion this week. On Tuesday, the DFB sports court upheld SVM's appeal against the 1-1 draw against FC Bayern München II when Bayern’s goalscorer wasn’t officially allowed to play. The result was retrospectively awarded to Meppen. This means that SV they are now level on points with third-placed Hamburger SV.

After a very strong start to the second half of the season with four wins in a row, Meppen have recently stumbled a little. The first defeat in the second half of the season, a 1-0 away loss against SC Sand was followed by just one victory against the relegation candidates SG 99 Andernach, before the game against Bayern Munich II, which was initially considered a draw, and the draw in Gütersloh.

On Saturday, however, Union women face one of the league's strongest home teams. Thomas Pfannkuch, who took over the position last summer, has put together a side that have so far picked up 25 points from ten home games. Only Union have managed to pick up one more point in front of their home crowd, although they have played a game more. Meppen’s only loss at home so far came on matchday 10, when 1. FC Nürnberg took three points home from Emsland with a 1-0 win. 

In a hard-fought first leg, Union had the upper hand with a 2-1 win. After SVM had taken the lead in the 4th minute, Lisa Heiseler and Celine Frank turned the game around in the first half. In an uneventful second half, Union were ultimately able to hold on to their lead.

It was also their first victory in the fifth meeting between the two sides. Meppen had won all the second division matches in the 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons.

Athanasia Moraitou and Sarah Abu Sabbah, two former Meppen players, are now part of the 1. FC Union Berlin squad. Both moved to Berlin-Köpenick in the summer of 2023. Moraitou previously played in Emsland for two and a half years, making 55 competitive appearances. Abu Sabbah made nine appearances in one year.

Union head coach Ailien Poese will be without Maria Cristina Lange, Leonie Köster, Sophie Trojahn, Ida Heikkinen and Judith Steinert on Sunday.

“Meppen are a strong team that play well, are good in one-on-one situations, and they are still in the race for promotion,” said Union’s head coach, Ailien Poese, ahead of Saturday’s game. “We are expecting an absolute top-class game, which we want to approach with confidence and energy in order to create our own moments and score goals.”  

The game will be played at the Hänsch-Arena on Sunday at 14:00. Tickets are available online from the SV Meppen ticket shop for €5 euros. In addition, a ticket office will be open.