On Friday evening, 12.04.2024, 1. FC Union Berlin will face FC Augsburg as part of the 29th Bundesliga matchday. Kick off in the WWK Arena is at 20:30.

The lie of the land

Augsburg’s 3-1 loss to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim last weekend spelled the end of an impressive run of five games unbeaten, with four of those victories.

Meanwhile Union were also beaten, if narrowly, 1-0 by the league leaders, Bayer Leverkusen despite a battling performance. Though a man up for the entirety of the second half following Robin Gosens’ second yellow card, it took a contested penalty to make the difference for the guests.

The opponents

The home side from the south-west of Bavaria are enjoying an impressive season that sees them fighting for the European places after 28 games played. They are currently seventh in the Bundesliga and, although level on points with Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg, Jess Thorup's team have a better goal difference. With 45 goals scored and 46 goals conceded, the team from the Fuggerstadt have achieved nine wins, nine defeats and ten draws this season.

Their leading light has been Bosnian striker Ermedin Demirovic who has been involved in exactly half of all of Augsburg’s goals with 15 scored and eight assists.

This has all come after a difficult start to the current season when, with just one win from the first seven games and a first-round exit from the DFB Pokal against third-division side Unterhaching, coach Enrico Maaßen was sacked. His successor, Thorup, has led the team to 15 of 21 games without defeat.

The reunion

Rani Khedira was under contract at Augsburg from 2017 to 2021, playing 127 games there before moving to the capital. Kevin Vogt also has a past there. Between 2012 and 2014, the Witten born centre-half played 61 competitive matches for FCA.

It will also be a chance for his former team-mates to meet Sven Michel who the red and white of Union in 44 competitive matches. A highlight of his time in Berlin was the decisive goal against Union Saint-Gilloise in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League group stage, which secured Union's progression to the first knock out round where they met Ajax.

The head to head

Out of 13 matches, Union have won just the one. Augsburg have won five and there have been seven draws, the most recent of which was actually the 1-1 in the last time the sides met, at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Then, Union were a goal down until the 88th minute before Kevin Volland equalised.

Personnel

Head coach Nenad Bjelica will be without Josip Juranović, Jérôme Roussillon, Yorbe Vertessen and Jakob Busk through injury, while Robin Gosens and Lucas Tousart are absent through suspension. 

Quotes ahead of the game

"Augsburg are a very combative team who nevertheless play good football and are always dangerous in attack," said Union's head coach, Nenad Bjelica, during his press conference on Thursday afternoon. "All in all, they're an unpleasant opponent who have put in convincing performances this spring in particular." He continued, "We will try to compensate for our absences as best we can and get the maximum out of ourselves so that we can get a positive result on Friday evening." 

Meanwhile his opposite number, Thorup, said, “Union have done well in the last few games. They come to the WWK ARENA with a lot of commitment and physicality, but we will try to beat them there with our strengths."

Service information

1,800 Union fans are expected in the away sector in Augsburg. Relevant information on visiting the stadium and on "Augsburg Calling" can be found here (German). Union merchandise can be purchased on site at the Union-Fahr-Zeughaus.

The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and there will also be an audio stream on rbb24 Inforadio and rbb24. As usual, Union will also provide information about the match via  the club's own live ticker as well as in English and Spanish on Twitter.