This Sunday, 24.03.2024, the top match in the Regionalliga Nordost will take place between the women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin and their closest rivals, FC Viktoria 1899 Berlin. The match will be broadcast live and free of charge on AFTV.

The opponents

Long before the season even began, it was expected that Union and Viktoria would once again duel for the Regionalliga Nordost title, with both clubs’ stated goals being to ultimately play in the Bundesliga. But after Viktoria came out on top last year (only to be defeated by Hamburger SV in the subsequent relegation play-off) Union currently enjoy the better position, with a three point advantage (plus a game in hand to be played at the end of April against Hertha BSC) over their city rivals.

One of the reasons for this is their 1-0 victory in the first half of the season when Dina Orschmann scored the only goal of the day in front of 1,500 spectators at Dörpfeldstraße. Viktoria also dropped important points on matchday seven when they were surprisingly beaten 2-1 at Hertha BSC.

These two defeats are the only blots on an otherwise successful season for the sky blues under coach Dennis Galleski, who joined the club in the summer, and who have won all eleven of their other games in the Regionalliga Nordost. Their record since the end of the winter break is also perfect, having beaten 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam II (4-0), Türkiyemspor Berlin (3-0) and most recently Bischofswerdaer FV (3-1). With 51 goals scored and four goals conceded, Viktoria have both the second-best attack and the second-best defence behind Union, who have scored 86 goals and conceded three.

Viktoria's top scorer is currently Kim Urbanek with 13 goals so far this season, making her the third-best scorer in the league behind Sarah Abu Sabbah (23) and Dina Orschmann (14).

Viktoria are also through to the semi-finals of the Polytan Pokal after a 7-0 win over FC Internationale two weeks ago, where they will face SV Blau-Weiss Hohen Neuendorf. Theoretically, that could lead to a third match-up between Union and Viktoria in the final.

The head to head

The two clubs have already faced each other in a total of 31 matches, with the record very even. Victoria have won 14, Union 12, and there have been five draws.

The personnel

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

The coach’s views ahead of the game

"We're looking forward to an absolute highlight of this second half of the season,” said Union’s head coach, Ailien Poese, during midweek. “Viktoria are very strong both as a team and individually and are regularly dangerous in front of their opponents' goal thanks to their aggressive style of play and quick switching. It's important for us to look towards this match working on our own game ideas and the solutions for different situations during the week in order to prepare ourselves as well as possible."

Service information

The match will kick off at 14:00 on Sunday at the Stadion Lichterfelde, which has a capacity of 4,300. Tickets for the match are available on the FC Viktoria Berlin website for €7. Children up to the age of 14 are admitted free of charge. The stadium will open at 13:00. There will be a live stream on AFTV for all those who cannot be there live.