Pace-setters Arminia Bielefeld visit the Alte Försterei
Union host league-leaders in Berlin
Union Berlin will welcome the league’s pace setters after three games, Arminia Bielefeld, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Sunday 13:30.
For the fourth game of the league campaign, the ground is expected to be sold out in both the home section and the away block.
The only team yet to lose points so far, Bielefeld sit at the top of the table after three victories on the spin – this is the first time the club from the east corner of Nordrhein Westfalen have perched on the summit of the league table. Understandably, Jeff Saibene, the club’s coach since March, is full of confidence. “This game against Union comes at the perfect time. We now have a chance to show that we’re not up there by chance,” he noted.
Jens Keller’s team, on the other hand, saw their winning start end last week following a 2-2 draw at Nürnberg. The Union head coach was left frustrated at his side’s defending, which came a week after losing three goals at home to Holstein Kiel as a result of mistakes, according to Keller. But the signs are good: Union hasn’t lost any of its last seven games against Arminia Bielefeld. “They have momentum. But they also have the necessary luck. Nonetheless, they work for it. It’s a team that invests huge amounts in the game,” said coach Keller.
He continued: “Bielefeld has a run and we want to interrupt that. We want to act defensively better than against Kiel without losing any of our attacking qualities.”
Keller still has to do without Kenny Redondo, Steven Skrzybski, Toni Leistner and Dennis Daube. This week’s new addition from Schalke, Atsuto Uchida, could make his debut in Union colours on Sunday.
Gates for the Alte Försterei will be open on Sunday at 12:00, but there are no extra tickets available for home fans. There will be tickets available at the away box office for travelling Bielefeld supporters on Sunday.