After four points from a possible six in the 2.Bundesliga, 1. FC Union Berlin and head coach Urs Fischer turn their attention to the DFB Pokal, Germany’s national cup competition. The Köpenick club will take on FC Carl Zeiss Jena on Sunday August 19 at 18:30.

Jena rematch — 50 years since cup win

This summer, Union are celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the FDGB Pokal triumph. The team defeated in the final was Carl Zeiss Jena, then one of the most outstanding teams of the GDR. Jena were beaten 2-1 and to open the 2018/19 season, the Thuringen side arrived in Berlin to contest a pre-season friendly at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Union will return the faithful on Sunday by heading to the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld and bringing a team of cup winners to the DFB Pokal first round tie.

Jena have won seven points from four matches in the German third division and have made positive steps under coach Mark Zimmermann. The 1-1 draw at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei showed the club’s ambitions to put in a successful campaign in the lower leagues. "We already saw it in the friendly at the beginning of July; Jena is a team that wants to play football,” said the Swiss coach. “If you let them, they open the game from behind. They are always lively and appear dangerously repeatedly in the opponent's penalty area. On the wings they have fast players like Fabien Tchenkoua, and up front with Manfred Starke who a very agile, difficult-to-control attacker.”

A high from Köln — Schönheim & Polter

Taking a point from league favourites 1. FC Köln has gone down well in Köpenick this week. Sebastian Andersson’s first league strike of the campaign snatched a point from the Billy Goats, making it four from a possible six for Fischer’s team. With difficult matches coming up in the 2.Bundesliga, Fischer knows how important is to continue the form into the cup.

Nevertheless, Sebastian Polter and Fabian Schönheim are two players singled out for praise by Fischer who said the two leading players could be available in the coming weeks. Florian Hübner was previously injured but managed to get some time in the 1-3 friendly defeat to VSG Altglienicke. Fischer confirmed Marc Torrejon was also progressing well. "They are on a good way," the Swiss coach added.

Both Ken Reichel and Manuel Schmiedebach came out of the Köln match with knocks but have since recovered and will be available for Sunday.

Fan and ticket information

The capacity of the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld in Jena is around 11,000 with 1,500 Union fans making the trip to support the team. All visitors to the stadium are requested to observe the stadium rules. This time there is bad news for those turning up without a ticket on the day, as the cup game is already sold out and therefore no box offices will be open.

Our mobile fan shop will be on site in Jena.