1. FC Union Berlin will need to quickly put Thursday behind them as Urs Fischer's side meet 1. FC Köln at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion on Sunday at 17:30.

Review — The last match:

In Group E of the UEFA Europa Conference League, Union suffered a first home defeat against Feyenoord. An agonising winning goal from Cyril Dessers on 73 minutes came about due to the slippery conditions after heavy rainfall in Berlin over the previous 24 hours. Conditions were tough and the Dutch side managed to come out on top. Luis Sinisterra put the visitors ahead after 15 minutes, but captain Christopher Trimmel fired in a stunning equaliser — just rewards for an excellent reaction on the part of Union. The Köpenick side looked in control for most of the second half, but Andreas Luthe got his side out of a hole on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, the Union goalkeeper lost his footing under a little bit of pressure and Dessers put the away side into the lead. Urs Fischer's side went down to nine men in the closing minutes with dismissals for Trimmel and Cedric Teuchert.

1. FC Köln — Opposition Report:

Under a familiar face, Steffen Baumgart, 1. FC Köln have made a fine start to the campaign. The Billy Goats have 13 points from a possible 30 and have themselves a four-point cushion above any relegation danger. While Köln haven't won in three, it is clear that they are more convincing on home soil. Baumgart has brought his style of play to the club, which was enormously successful at Paderborn. At the Rhein-Energie-Stadion, Köln have experienced one defeat out of their last previous seven matches in the Bundesliga — a late-season loss to the stable and impressive SC Freiburg. In that time, RB Leipzig have left without three points on two occasions while Köln staged an impressive comeback to draw 2-2 with UEFA Europa League participants Bayer Leverkusen.

1. FC Köln — The coach's view:

"I find Köln to be a very consistent team," said Urs Fischer at the pre-match press conference. "They will put the game in Hoffenheim behind them. Their style is high intensity and they give everything, they play mostly forwards. They play through pressure. They are doing really well ... in the first few minutes in Köln we have to be on it, this is something which has been discussed. On Thursday, we needed time to get into the game and we were already 0-1 behind. We need to improve this."

Personnel:

Max Kruse is "one or two days" away from being match ready. Sunday's game comes too quickly for Union's number 10 despite his recovery going well this week. Urs Fischer has a full squad to pick from for the trip to Köln.

Service:

The match is going under 2G conditions in Köln — you must present full vaccine or full recovery status at the stadium. A code with ticket details was sent to all ticket holders before the 3rd of November.

Union will be backed by 900 supporters at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion.