After a week without a match, the women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin will be back in action in the Regionalliga Nordost next Sunday when they play away at Magdeburger FFC. Kick-off at the Heinrich-Germer-Stadion is at 14:00.

The opponents

Until a week ago, Magdeburger FFC, who are currently 5th in the table, were actually the only team apart from 1. FC Union Berlin not to have suffered a single loss in the league. head coach Alexander Auer's side, who have been in the Regionalliga since 2015, had four wins and three draws until last weekend's heavy 6-2 defeat to Türkiyemspor.

Compared to last year, when the club picked up only twelve points in the entire season, finishing 11th in the table, it's fair to say that Magdeburg have been surpassing many people's expectations, having already picked up 15 points.

But Magdeburg, who played in the 2. Bundesliga from 2009 to 2015, were one of the league's leading promotion candidates for years. The culmination of the 2017/18 season, for example, is unforgettable, when they and Union and Magdeburg were neck-and-neck in the race for first place in the Regionalliga right to the very end. It all came down to the last game of the season when they met to settle the title. Magdeburg had a two-point lead and accordingly only needed a draw to secure first place, but instead Union won 1-0 and with it overtook their rivals from Saxony-Anhalt at the last.

In the subsequent play-off to reach the 2nd Bundesliga, however, both clubs ultimately failed. Since that astonishing season, however, Magdeburg have slipped somewhat back into mid-table.

The head to head

Due to the long-standing rivalry in the Regionalliga as well as a joint season in the 2nd Bundesliga in 2014/15, when both clubs were relegated, this tie now has a considerable history, with the teams already having already faced each other 21 times. However, Union have by far the better record with 14 wins, three draws and only four victories for Magdeburg.

The last of those encounters was also one of the most decisive, in May 2022 Union won 5-0 at Dörpfeldstraße, with captain Lisa Heiseler and Megan Reichenbach scoring twice each. Magdeburg's last victory over Union, meanwhile, dates back to the 2-0 at home in 2018.

The coach's views ahead of the game

"Magdeburg, a team that were also unbeaten until last weekend, hey are characterised by their speed on the break, and effectiveness in front of goal," said Union head coach Ailien Poese.

Personnel

Union will have to do without Chayenne Krebs and Elisa Spolaczyk this weekend due to injury. Celine Frank is also still in rehabilitation training. Sophie Trojahn, on the other hand, has returned to team training after her injury sustained during pre-season.