Union Host Hoffenheim
Matchday 4 in the Bundesliga
On Saturday, 1. FC Union Berlin’s men’s team will host TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Kick off at the Alte Försterei in the game, part of the Bundesliga’s 4th matchday, is at 15:30.
The lie of the land
The team from the Kraichgau region started the new season with a 3-2 win against newly promoted SV Holstein Kiel, with Andrej Kramaric scoring all three TSG goals. However, following this, TSG suffered two defeats against, losing 3-1 away at Eintracht Frankfurt and 4-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen.
Union, meanwhile, are undefeated so far, having taken a point last weekend against Champions League participants Leipzig. Goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow shone, particularly, saving Lois Openda’s 74th minute, thus ensuring that Union, with just one goal conceded, have the best defence in the league.
The opponents
The team from Sinsheim are currently in 14th place after the first three matches. With five goals scored and nine conceded, Hoffenheim currently have the second-weakest defence in the league. Last season, the team under coach Pellegrino Matarazzo conceded 66 goals but scored just as many, which ultimately secured them 7th place and a place in the UEFA Europa League.
After the 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons, TSG fans can once again look forward to international opponents such as Olympique Lyonnais, Tottenham Hotspur and FC Porto in the UEFA Europa League.
When it comes to scoring and setting up goals for TSG, Croatian international Andrej Kramaric has been head and shoulders above the rest for years. Last season, the 33-year-old was involved in 23 goals in 31 competitive matches and already four goals and an assist in three games in the current season. In eight and a half years with the Kraichgau outfit, the centre forward has a remarkable total of 193 assists in 288 appearances.
The head to head
The balance sheet between the two clubs is completely even; both teams have won four, lost four and there have been two draws. The last meeting in February this year was won by Union with a late goal from former Leeds loanee Brenden Aaronson.
The personnel
Union's head coach Bo Svensson will have to do without Kevin Volland (rehab) and the injured Josip Juranović and Yannic Stein.
The reunions
This Saturday's clash will see a reunion of sorts for a few old teammates on both sides.
In the current Union squad, there are four players with a TSG Hoffenheim past, Kevin Volland, Janik Haberer, Kevin Vogt and summer signing Robert Skov. Volland played 144 games for TSG between 2012 and 2016, while Janik Haberer made 17 appearances for the second team in the 2014/15 season in the Regionalliga Südwest. Having moved from Sinsheim to Köpenick during the last winter transfer window, Kevin Vogt will face his former teammates, having made a total of 226 appearances for TSG. Skov only joined Union a few weeks ago, having previously spent five years at Hoffenheim, where he made 126 appearances.
On the other side, midfielder Grischa Prömel has been playing in Sinsheim since the summer of 2022. He wore the Union shirt from 2017 to 2022, scoring 20 goals in 141 competitive games and was part of the side that was promoted to the Bundesliga in 2019. He will miss Saturday's game due to injury. Marius Bülter also played for Union between 2019 and 2021 before joining FC Schalke 04. After Schalke were relegated to the 2. Bundesliga, the striker signed for 1899 in the summer of 2023.
The coaches’ views ahead of the game
“All you read at the moment is that Hoffenheim have lost their last two games,” said Union’s head coach, Bo Svensson, returning after the recent bout of sickness that kept him from the bench against Leipzig. “However, their opponents were also Frankfurt and Leverkusen. If you look at TSG's transfer record, you realise that they are of an extremely high quality. Of course, we want to look after ourselves first and foremost, but we know very well that this will be a difficult task.”
Service information
As usual, the stadium at the Alte Försterei will open two hours before kick-off. The game is sold out in both the home and away sections. All visitors are therefore advised to arrive early. Information about the shuttle buses that will be used due to the closure of the tram system at the Alte Försterei stop, as well as the fan letter from the Berlin police, can be found here (German).
The game will be broadcast live on Sky. 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, as well as in English and Spanish on Twitter.
