On Saturday, 07.01.2023, 1. FC Union Berlin will have a double-header against league rivals FC Augsburg as part of their winter training camp in Campoamor, Spain. The games will kick off at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the training grounds Union can currently call their own.

Union's outlook

For Union, the match day is a massive part of the first real endurance test of the new calendar year. And this training camp has been hard in places. Urs Fischer and his coaching team have been challenging the players day after day. Six, in some cases long, sessions on various forms of play, including finishing exercises and combination and build-up play, have been designed to  challenge the pros since the beginning of the week.

The opponents

The two sides, of course, know each other well. What was only just under two months ago (though it feels a lot longer), in their 14th game of the Bundesliga season, Union and FCA played out a thrilling 2-2 draw. In what was a wild opening phase, Augsburg came from behind twice through striker Florian Niederlechner.

During the extended winter break they have trained their focus, naturally, onto the resumption of the league, where they will face Borussia Dortmund in their first game back. Augsburg are currently sitting in 14th in the table. They have already played two friendlies, a commanding 3-0 win against Grashopper Club Zürich, and a 2-0 against Union's last opponent in the DFB Pokal, 1. FC Heidenheim.

After the double-header against Union, coach Enrico Maaßen's team, who have already made their first signing of the Winter in the shape of Belgian U-19 international Arne Engels from Club NXT, have an encounter with Hungarian champions and cup winners Ferencvaros Budapest scheduled for mid-January.

Service information

The games will take place on the training pitches of the Golf Hotel Campoamor, Av. Conde de Barcelona, 12, 03189 Dehesa de Campoamor, Alicante. But all Unioner unable to attend in person can follow the games live on AFTV.

As usual, Union will provide updates on the games on the club's own live ticker, as well as in English on twitter,