Thursday's friendly between 1. FC Union Berlin and Dynamo Dresden ended without a goal at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

1. FC Union Berlin: Nicolas; Hübner (Schlotterbeck 45), Rapp, Parensen; Reichel, Ryerson, Kroos, Schmiedebach (Kade 61); Abdullahi (Flecker 37), Polter, Ingvartsen (Mees 45)

Dynamo Dresden: Broll (Wiegers 45); Löwe, Müller (Kreuzer 45), Ballas, Hamalainen; Klingenburg, Löwe (Alagic 85), Kulke; Kone (Atik 45), Möschl, Horvath (Kubitz 85)

With the likes of Christopher Trimmel and Sebastian Andersson on international duty, Urs Fischer used the chance to get extra minutes into his squad. The Swiss coach left Marvin Friedrich, Neven Subotic, Rafal Gikiewicz, Chrisopher Lenz and Robert Andrich out of the squad among others as he looked to give the other options the chance to impress. The notable inclusions were Suleiman Abdullahi and Florian Hübner who are respectively turning up the intensity in their return to full training.

Though yet to make an appearance this season, Hübner marked his return with a header into the back of the net. However, referee Lasse Koslowski adjudged a push on his marker and awarded Dresden the defensive free-kick instead of the opener. Kevin Broll and his Dresden defence held their own well against the front-three, which featured Sebastian Polter, Marcus Ingvartsen and Abdullahi. The Nigerian’s afternoon was complete on 37 minutes with Florian Flecker taking his place out wide on the right. A lead appeared likelier for the home team who created their two best opportunities before the first 45 was out. Ingvartsen and Polter combined and the Dane moved clear on goal but was denied at the last second as he was set to pull the trigger. Polter headed into the path of skipper Michael Parensen a minute later but the defender’s strike cannoned back against the woodwork.

Fischer switched Ingvartsen for Joshua Mees at the break, while Florian Hübner gave his place to Keven Schlotterbeck as the shape remained a fluid 3-4-3/3-5-2. Julian Ryerson picked out Mees with a fine pass on 53 minutes but the substitute fired straight at Dresden keeper Patrick Weigers from around 15 yards out. Julius Kade was given around half an hour of game time, with the youngster coming on for Manuel Schmiedebach. The ever-reliable Parensen made a crucial intervention with 20 minutes left as Baris Atik found himself one-v-one with Moritz Nicolas. Charging in with a late sliding challenge, the Union stand-in captain protected the clean sheet.