Position
Union Berlin have not won any of the last five games. And they have not scored themselves in the last four matches. Nevertheless, the Irons are still in a decent position in the table: 16 points from eleven games, tenth place, a goal difference of zero. They are just four points behind Bayer 04 in fourth place. At first sight it appears there are no reasons to worry. After the 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 8, the team led by coach Bo Svensson were in a Champions League qualification spot. Up to then they had beaten Borussia Dortmund (2-1), took a point off RB Leipzig in a 0-0 draw and successfully met the challenges against newly promoted FC St. Pauli (1-0) and Holstein Kiel (2-0). The downturn started at the end of October. A disappointing DFB Pokal exit in the second round at third division Arminia Bielefeld (0-2) was followed by a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, a goalless draw against SC Freiburg and, last weekend, a 1-0 loss at VfL Wolfsburg. "Obviously we are going through a little rough patch," said Rani Khedira. But the midfielder remained confident. "We are aware we’re not scoring enough goals. In training you can see a certain dissatisfaction and hunger." They want to get that hunger back on the pitch as soon as possible.
Personnel
Bo Svensson may have to rejig his well-oiled defence against the Werkself. Central defender Diogo Leite had to be substituted after eight minutes in Wolfsburg last weekend due to an injury. The Portugal international had played 90 minutes in all the previous eleven league games. He was able to start training again on his own at the start of the week. If he is ruled out for the game against Bayer 04 his position in the back three may be taken by Leopold Querfeld. The 20-year-old new signing from Rapid Vienna came on for Diogo Leite at Wolfsburg. In addition to the goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow, Kevin Vogt and Danilho Doekhi are number one choices in the defence.
There is a possibility one of the regular starters in midfield over recent weeks may be sidelined. Home-grown player Aljoscha Kemlein has muscular problems. There is a question mark over him playing against Bayer 04. The Germany U21 international has lined up alongside Rani Khedira in central midfield in recent games. Alternatives for Kemlein are Andras Schäfer, Janik Haberer and Lucas Tousart. And winger Robert Skov was restricted in training up to the middle of the week due to muscular problems.
In attack, Svensson has primarily relied on Jordan Siebatcheu, Benedict Hollerbach, Yorbe Vertessen plus the South Korean Woo-Yeong Jeong. Kevin Volland has hardly played. The former Leverkusen player, who made 148 appearances for the Werkself (50 goals, 32 assists), underwent a knee operation in the summer and was out of action for three months after that. He made his comeback for Union Berlin in the 2-0 Pokal defeat in Bielefeld at the end of October. The 32-year-old has yet to play in the Bundesliga this season. Volland was not in the squad for the 1-0 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg. His two new fellow strikers Ivan Prtajin and Andrej Ilic are still waiting to play their first games for Union. Prtajin arrived in the summer from Bundesliga 2 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Ilic was signed on loan at the last minute from French top-flight club Lille. The 24-year-old Serbian has recently been sidelined with a thigh injury.
Problems
The team from Köpenick are struggling up front. They have only scored nine goals so far this term. That means Union have the second weakest attack in the league after FC St. Pauli (7). The Irons have not scored themselves for more than six hours. And not much happened in attack in Wolfsburg. "On the ball and in the few counter-attacks we did not have enough power and quality," criticised Svensson. There were few creative impulses from midfield. At the moment they are lacking a genuine goalscorer. Centre-forward Benedict Hollerbach together with the left wingback Tom Rothe are top scorers in the team with two goals each. Jordan Siebatcheu has yet to score. In spite of the goal drought, the Union captain Christopher Trimmel remains optimistic: "Our approach is right. There are little things and it's not working with scoring goals at the moment. It would be different if we didn't create any chances. That can quickly change." The recovered Kevin Volland could provide more of a goal threat. Rani Khedira is also convinced of that: "In Kevin we have a returnee who has often proved he's a goalscorer. He will definitely help us out in the future."
Performers
If the Irons’ attacking play was nearly as good as their defensive work then Union would be several places higher up the table. They have only conceded nine goals so far. Together with RB Leipzig, they have the second best defence in the league behind Bayern Munich (7). By comparison: The Werkself have already let in 18 goals. One reason for the defensive stability of the Berlin team is the well-oiled and excellent performing back three made up of Diogo Leite, Kevin Vogt and Danilho Doekhi. The trio have been in the starting line-up all season. As has Rani Khedira, who covers the central midfield and provides balance.
Ahead of the game against the Werkself, the 30-year-old is banking on the home strength of his own team. Union are as yet unbeaten this season at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei (3 wins, 2 draws). "Of course, it will be a tough nut for us to crack," said Khedira. ""But we have looked better in the home games so far. We have felt the energy of the stadium and also recovered our strength at home." The Werkself will have to be wide awake for the Union set-pieces. The Irons have scored five of their nine goals from dead balls. The Black and Reds will have to be prepared for an intense match. The Svensson team are one of the strongest sides in the league in terms of physical approach to the game. Union do an incredible amount of running – only FC St. Pauli have clocked up more kilometres per game. The Irons have also made the third highest number of challenges of all the teams in the Bundesliga.
