A new era was ushered in this summer on Hafenstraße in Essen. After twelve years as head coach – with a brief interruption between 2016 and 2019 – the successful Markus Högner is no longer on the sidelines at SGS, as the 58-year-old joined the ambitious Regionalliga side Borussia Dortmund. The main responsibility for the team now lies with Robert Augustin, who served as Högner’s assistant in Essen during the past two seasons.

Under Högner, the Lila-Weißen, who have been playing in the Bundesliga continuously since 2004, achieved the joint best finish in the club's history in the 2023/24 season with fourth place. They reached the final of the DFB Pokal in 2014 and 2020. Last season, Essen finished in ninth, with Natasha Kowalski top socrerwith six goals. However, this season, the Ruhrpott club is still waiting for their first goal of the season.

SGS Essen enjoy an excellent reputation for their youth development. Four players – Stina Johannes, Linda Dallmann, Carlotta Wamser, and Lea Schüller – were part of the German squad for the 2025 EUROs, having either gone through SGS's youth system or taken their first steps in professional football in Essen. Other national team players such as Nicole Anyomi, Lena Oberdorf, and Jana Feldkamp also made their first Bundesliga steps in Essen, with the latter returning to her youth club this summer after four years in Hoffenheim. 

In August of last year, the sides faced each other in a pre-season friendly. In Essen, Union managed to turn a 1-2 deficit into an ultimate 3-2 victory.

The coaching team have to do without the services of Leonie Köster, Judtih Steinert, Hannah Eurlings, Jenny Hipp, and Fatma Şakar on Saturday.

“Essen are an established Bundesliga team that have impressed in recent years with their good, aggressive young players. We want to take that on Saturday and be equally aggressive in the duels," said  Union head coach, Ailien Poese,during her press  conferenceon Friday afternoon. "In this regard, we also want to build on the Leverkusen game and ultimately keep the three points at the Alte Försterei. For that, we will have to work hard.” 

“Union are a strong new club in the league. They play boldly forward and pass the ball well. In defense, they are very disciplined. After losing the ball, they reorganise quickly, and do not seem like a team that is new to the league,” said the Essen goalkeeper, Kim Sindermann.

Tickets for the match are available for sale at all Union-zeughauses as well as online. The Stadion An der Alten Försterei opens its gates and the ticket office at 10:00. There are remaining parking spaces available in front of the main stand, the parking fee is €8.