The women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin have started their pre-season superbly, with two victories so far. Next Saturday, 29.07.2023, the third test stands before them as they travel to play the Bundesliga promoted team 1. FC Nürnberg. Kick-off at the Sportpark Valznerweiher is at 13:00.

The opponents

This coming season, after 24 years’ absence, 1. FC Nürnberg will return to the Bundesliga after 24 years. Having played in the top flight for one season in 1999, the Franconians dropped through the leagues in the following years, sinking down to the fourth or even fifth divisions. In 2013, however, the Red and Whites managed to return to the Regionalliga, from which the team was promoted to the 2. Bundesliga in 2021. Finally, only two years later, 1. FC Nürnberg achieved that long hoped for promotion last May as runners-up behind RB Leipzig.

The deciding match at home against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II, which the hosts won 3-0, took place in front of 2,500 spectators. And if that was impressive, six months earlier, 17,300 spectators had watched the DFB Pokal match against VfL Wolfsburg at the Max Morlock Stadium, setting a general attendance record for a women's cup match, excluding finals.

Despite the promotion, a new man has taken to the sidelines at 1. FC Nürnberg, with 30 year old Dutchman Thomas Oostendorp taking over as head coach this summer having, most recently worked for the Dutch national youth teams. For Oostendorp, Saturday's match will also be his debut as coach with his new employer.

Nürnberg, whose first Bundesliga match will be in mid-September, returned to training ten days ago and have not yet played a match.

Curiously, Oostendorp was hired by his predecessor. Promoted coach Osman Cankaya now serves as sporting director after leading the club from the Regionalliga to the Bundesliga over the past six years.

Union want to end training camp with a sense of achievement

After successful friendlies against Pogon Szczecin (2-1) and FFC Wacker München (5-0), Union want to present themselves in the best possible light in Nuremberg. The test also marks the end of the week-long training camp in Aschheim, and they will return to Berlin on Sunday, hopefully, even more statisfied, and readier than ever.