On Sunday, 17.03.2024, the women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin will welcome RasenBallsport Leipzig II for the first home game of the second half of the Regionalliga Nordost season.

The opponents

Last year’s fourth placed RB Leipzig II are currently 7th in the table with 17 points from 13 games. The Saxons have had a mixed season so far, although they were still among the favourites for promotion in the summer thanks to a strong second half of the 2022-23 season. But this season, head coach Paul Nürnberger's young team have shown only glimpses of their potential, narrowly losing 1-0 to both Union and Viktoria, but also beating Hertha BSC 5-1. With 26 goals, Leipzig II have the fourth-best attack in the league, their line lead by Natalie Grenz with six goals this season.

The Leipzig side have started the second half of the season so far with two draws. Both the second-round opener at Türkiyemspor Berlin two weeks ago and the home match against Bischofswerdaer FV last weekend ended in a 1-1 draw, with RB Leipzig II only managing to equalize in the final minutes of both games.

The head to head

The two teams have faced each other four times so far, with Union winning three, while one ended in a draw.

Personnel

Head coach Ailien Poese will be without seven players on Sunday: Maria Cristina Lange, Pauline Wimmer, Anna Weiß, Nour Youssef, Pia Metzker, Sophie Trojahn and Sarah Hornschuch.

The coach’s view ahead of the game

"Leipzig made the spaces extremely tight in the first leg and presented us with major challenges to get in front of goal,” said Poese on the challenges her side face on Sunday afternoon. “They are able to switch well from this compactness, so we are preparing to take the next three points in Köpenick against an opponent who play good football."

Service information

Kick off at the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz in Dörpfeldstraße is at 14:00. Admission is free.