Union Berlin make trip south to SC Freiburg
Match Preview:
1. FC Union Berlin will look to bounce back from Wednesday's DFB Pokal exit when they head to SC Freiburg on Saturday at 15:30.
Urs Fischer's side will head to Baden-Württemberg for the weekend's game, which is expected to be the club's final visit to the Schwarzwald-Stadion before Freiburg move into their new home.
Review: Bitter Cup Exit, Freiburg's form unconvincing
1. FC Union Berlin bowed out of the German Cup after a 1-3 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night. Marcus Ingvartsen put the Köpenick club in front as Union dominated and controlled the first quarter-final bout in 19 years. But Christopher Lenz's second yellow card turned the game on its head with 20 minutes to play. Karim Bellarabi took advantage seconds after Union were reduced to 10 men at the BayArena. Charles Aranguiz and Moussa Diaby scored late on to book Peter Bosz's side's place in the semi-final draw.
Christian Streich's team enjoyed a free midweek to prepare for the visit of Union this weekend. Last Saturday, Freiburg put in a dogged performance at Signal Iduna Park, but went down 0-1 to Borussia Dortmund and an early strike from Jadon Sancho. However, Freiburg's form since the return hasn't matched the excellent results of the first half of the season. Streich's side have won just two of seven Bundesliga games — losing to 1. FC Köln, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Paderborn and Borussia Dortmund along the way.
Record: Unbeaten in three
1. FC Union Berlin will look to extend their positive run of results against Freiburg to four successive matches. Late goals put Union into the third round of the German Cup after a 3-1 win at the Schwarzwald-Stadion in October. At home, Marius Bülter and Marcus Ingvartsen scored the goals to guarantee three points in the Bundesliga. In 2016, after Freiburg had already secured a return promotion to the top flight, Union ran out 2-1 winners at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
Service: Over 2,000 in Freiburg
The club expects around 2,200 away supporters at the Schwarzwald-Stadion. There are tickets still available for the away end on the day of the game.
You can read more from head coach Urs Fischer after the Leverkusen defeat and ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga return here.