On Sunday afternoon, 30.10.2022, 1. FC Union Berlin host tenth placed Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Kick off is at 15:30. Gladbach will be well rested having had the full week to prepare whereas Union are coming into this off the back of another long European week, having defeated SC Braga in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

The opponents

Borussia's season has certainly not run as they'd have expected so far. With 16 points, they are not only in mid-table, but with eight points separating them from the relegation place and seven points from the league leaders, Union, they are stuck in a kind of limbo, with a discernible trend hard to pick out.

And after they started off pretty healthily, a commanding 9-1 victory in the first round of the cup against SV Oberarchern of the Baden-Wurtenburg Oberliga was followed by the taking of eight points from their first four league games, including a 1-1 draw in Munich and impressive wins against both Hertha and Leipzig. Since then, however, things have fallen away and it's taken them another seven games to make up their next eight.

It's now three weeks without a win for the Foals, they got knocked out of the cup in the 2nd round, losing 2-1 in Darmstadt 98, as well last week's humbling 3-1 loss to Eintracht in Frankfurt in the league.

Tactically, coach Daniel Farke, who has only been in office since the summer of 2022, usually plays a 4-2-3-1 system. But this depends on the strength of his squad, and currently they are without nine players due to sickness or injury, including Jonas Hofmann and the superb goalkeeper, Jan Sommer. Marcus Thuram, their top scorer this season with a goal-a-game in all competitions is, however, fit.

The head to head

The clubs have met six times in the Bundesliga so far. With three victories, the balance is in favour of Union, who are also still unbeaten at home against the visitors (with two victories and a draw). And of course, looking back, one of Union's greatest ever evenings was the 6-4 win on penalties against Mönchengladbach in the legendary cup semi-final of 2000/01.

The reunion

1. FC Union Berlin will be glad to welcome back promotion hero Marvin Friedrich. The central defender moved to the Niederrhein last winter after playing 78 games for Union. 

The personnel

Head coach Urs Fischer has the entire squad fit and at his disposal for Sunday.

The coaches views ahead of the match

Fischer expects an exhausting match against strong opponents "Gladbach always try to find solutions with the ball, they like to play, building up pressure. As soon as they can get up to their speed, they are very dangerous. Despite some injuries, Gladbach have good quality in their line-up week after week. It will be an extremely tough task."

Gladbach's head coach Farke meanwhile was full of praise for Union's performances in the Bundesliga: "Union have great quality. They have been performing consistently well for a long time and have worked their way up step by step - also with good transfers. Their path is a lesson for other clubs."

Service information

The stadium is sold out, however Union members have one last chance to buy tickets on the official re-sale market.

The stadium opens at 14:30.

The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and, as usual, Union will also provide information on the match on the club's own ticker and in English on twitter.