Union Berlin’s campaign continues on Saturday February 24 (13:00) against SV Sandhausen at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

Following Union’s defeat last week at Eintracht Braunschweig, there’s little to separate the two teams in the league table. Sandhausen’s 1-0 over Kaiserslautern moved Kenan Kocak’s side up to fourth place, the southwestern club collecting 14 points from their last seven league outings – four wins, two draws and one loss.

The same period has conjured up slightly different results for 1.FC Union, with Andre Hofschneider’s team managing just the solitary victory and draw among a run of defeats. With four points fewer than Sandhausen, Union sits down in 10^th. The previous meeting between the teams saw Kocak’s men come out with a 1-0 win during the first ‘Englische Woche’ of the season.

However, Union’s record looks bright against the side from the Stadion am Hardtwald. The Köpenick club has won six of 11 meetings in the 2.Bundesliga, drawing one, and conceding four defeats. “Sandhausen has scored two goals in the last five games, yet has still won eight points. That says everything. They’re very disciplined and ready to run through a brick wall for each other,” said coach Hofschneider at the pre-match press conference.

He continued: “As a team, they’re of extremely high quality. That’s why they are rightly above us in the table.”

Hofschneider’s team has taken a long look at themselves following the defeat in Braunschweig, and the Union coach wants his players to give something back for the great support of the fans. "We have a duty towards the fans. We just have to make up for something."

Union’s options for Saturday’s match are still not clear due to a string of injuries and illnesses. There are question marks over Marvin Friedrich, Lennart Maloney and Berkan Taz, while Dennis Daube is doubtful having just returned to full training. Hofschneider will certainly be without Felix Kroos who is suspended after reaching the yellow card threshold.

Tickets for the game will still be available for home and away fans at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday. For those attending at the last minute, there will be tickets made available for the normal away section, as well as, some seated areas in the main stand.