After last weekend’s clash against the reigning champions, the men's team of 1. FC Union Berlin will now face the reigning runners-up, VfB Stuttgart, on Friday, 6 December 2024. Kick off in Baden-Württemberg is at 20:30.

The lie of the land

Stuttgart showed their strength, as well as their comeback skills, at SV Werder Bremen last weekend as forward Ermedin Demirovic equalised twice after Bremen had taken the lead. That 2-2 draw for Sebastian Hoeneß' team was then bettered in the DFB Pokal, when they won 3-0 at SSV Jahn Regensburg.

Union, on the other hand, are coming off the back of their 2-1 loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Despite a combative performance from the hosts, substitute Florian Wirtz set up Patrik Schick with 20 minutes to play, deciding an otherwise largely evenly matched game.  

The opponents

VfB Stuttgart can look back on an exceptionally successful previous season when, after 34 games played, the team from Baden-Württemberg finished in second place in the table, ahead of FC Bayern München, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2008/09.

In the former European Cup’s new format, the Swabians are currently ranked 27th out of 36 teams, a position which would mean elimination. However, their gap to a place in the qualifying round is only two points, while a direct entry into the round of 16 is also still mathematically possible. Their only points have come through their 1-0 away win against Juventus and the 1-1 draw against Sparta Prague, while their games against Crvena Zvezda, (5-1), Atalanta (2-0) and Real Madrid (3-1) have all ended in losses.

The club from Cannstatt are currently in ninth place in the Bundesliga with 17 points from twelve games – one point more than Union. Last season, Stuttgart had already won more than twice as many games (nine) than now (four).

The head to head

The two clubs have met eight times in the Bundesliga so far. Union have their noses slightly ahead, having won three of those, while three more have ended in a draw. Stuttgart only won their first two games against the Berliners in the top flight last season.

When it comes to Stuttgart, however, the 2018/19 relegation play-off will always remain a special chapter in Union’s history. Union were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time thanks to the away goals rule after a 2-2 first leg draw and the consequent goalless draw at home in the second leg.

The personnel

Union's head coach Bo Svensson has to do without Kevin Volland, Yannic Stein, Oluwaseun Ogbemudia and Andrej Ilic for the away trip.

The reunion

Rani Khedira and Benedict Hollerbach are two Union players who will meet their past on Friday evening. While Khedira’s career at VfB is well known, Hollerbach played for Bayern's U19 team under Sebastian Hoeneß. In addition, VfB loanee Wooyeong Jeong wore the Swabians' shirt in 29 games.

On the other side, winger Jamie Leweling will also be reunited with old teammates. The currently injured player made 25 appearances for Union in 2022/23 before he was loaned out to VfB before his permanent move this summer.

There will also be a reunion off the pitch. VfB sporting director Christian Gentner played 53 of his 430 Bundesliga games in a Union shirt.

The coaches’ views ahead of the game

“We have a difficult task ahead of us,” was Union head coach, Bo Svensson’s, estimation of his side’s task during his press conference on Thursday morning. “VfB have started the season well and still have a lot of quality despite the injuries. They bring their coach’s signature onto the pitch impressively. It will be difficult, but we are looking forward to it.”

His opposite number, Sebastian Hoeneß, meanwhile, had this to say on Thursday afternoon. ""I see Union as a very solid team this season – especially in defence. They've conceded the second fewest goals after Bayern. They don't score too many either – that's also true."

The game will be broadcast live on DAZN. In addition, there will be an audio stream on rbb24 Inforadio and on rbb24. As usual, Union will also provide information on the game via the club's own live ticker.