Following hot on the heels from Thursday night's goalless draw with Ajax Amsterdam in the Europa League,1. FC Union Berlin are back to Bundesliga business with Sunday's visit from FC Schalke 04. Kick off is at 3:30 pm at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

The lie of the land

The nailbiting win over Leipzig last Saturday gave the Köpenick side another boost in the Bundesliga. Not only did it mean they continue to keep their distance from Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg, but also extended their lead over Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt. With 42 points, Union are currently in 2nd place in the table.

Schalke's position at the bottom did not improve despite the gain of another point, as Hertha BSC beat Borussia Mönchengladbach to pull away. With twelve points, five behind the relegation play-off place, for the Knappen, the only way is up.

The opponents

After a solid start for the newly promoted Schalke, their form slumped towards the end of the first half of the season. Apart from a 1-0 against FSV Mainz 05, they went on to suffered defeat after defeat from the seventh game of the season through to the 17th. The consequences were sadly clear for head coach Frank Kramer, Thomas Reis succeeded him.

The winter break was used to restructure the squad and for the new head coach and team to get to know each other. The squad signed five players on loan in January. Moritz Jenz, Jere Uronen and Éder Balanta for the defence, Michael Frey and Unioner Tim Skarke up top. The reorientation bore fruit after some intitial teething problems.

One of the first things Reis addressed was his leaky defence, bringing about a change of goalkeeper with returning Schalke player Ralf Fährmann replacing Alexander Schwolow between the posts. The result was decisive, three games played, three clean sheets. The centre-back duo of newcomer Jenz and the experienced Yoshida has also started to harmonise, enabling them to at least leave their last two fictures with a point a piece.

The reunion

The Gelsenkirchen squad includes a goal scorer, a promotion (and first season in the Bundesliga) hero, and an actual, current Unioner. The first of the bunch is  the man at who's door most of the adulation for promotion could be layed. Simon Terrodde scored 30 in 30 to see the Gelsenkirchen side back up in the top flight. Terodde scored 25 times in 93 games for Union between 2011 and 2014 and assisted a further 13 goals.

Marius Bülter and Sebastian Polter even played together in twelve games for the Eisernen. With Polter, Union achieved promotion, and with Polter and Bülter, they managed to stay in the league in their first Bundesliga season, which means that both have secured their place in the Union history books. Then there is Tim Skarke, who joined the Knappen on loan in January. So far, the 26-year-old has played in three out of a possible four games.

On the other side, FUnion stopper Frederik Rönnow has already worn the jersey of the Royal Blues. In their relegation season of 2020/21, however, he was plagued by various injuries, which only allowed him to make eleven appearances.

The Personnel

Only András Schäfer is still missing, otherwise the entire squad is ready for action.

The coaches' views ahead of the match

"They have played three goalless games recently, both up front as at the back. But in those last three games they had the most shots on goal of all Bundesliga teams and they have also stabilised defensively," said Fischer in his press conference on Saturday afternoon. "They are physical and are generally uncomfortable to play against. They go into a lot of direct duels and also often go for the second ball. I think it will be a tough game, but we are looking forward to it as well."

"Urs Fischer is doing a great job" said his opposite number Reis. "The players know exactly what they have to do. They don't have much possession but defend very well and are brutal on the break. Of course we want to score there, even though maybe not many people think we will again, but we're going there and we want to win," said guest coach Thomas Reis.

Service information: Changed route to the stadium

Cable work is currently being carried out in the area of Hämmerlingstraße/Am Bahndamm and Hämmerlingstraße is closed in both directions between Am Bahndamm and Friedenstraße (railway bridge) to motor and cycle traffic as well as pedestrians on match days. Information on the diversion can be found here.

The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. As usual, Union will also provide information on the match in the club's own live ticker, as well as in English on twitter.