That VfL Wolfsburg are one of the most successful clubs in German women's football is well known. Since their first ever title in 2013, Wolfsburg have secured two Champions League victories, seven championships, and eleven DFB Pokal titles.

However, the past season was the first since 2012/13 in which the Wölfinnen went without a title. In the Bundesliga, FC Bayern München continued their streak from the previous two years, while in the DFB Pokal, Wolfsburg were eliminated in the quarter-finals by TSG 1899 Hoffenheim after eleven consecutive victories.

It was a summer of big changes at Elsterweg. Longtime internationals Merle Frohms, Marina Hegering, Jule Brand, and Kathrin Hendrich left the club, while young key players Stina Johannes, Cora Zicai, and Sophia Kleinherne, who participated in the European Championship, arrived from Bundesliga rivals.

Returning to the touchline was a familiar face in Stephan Lerch, who had previously served as head coach from 2017 to 2021. So far, the restart seems to be successful. Second in the table with 19 points, Wolfsburg are unbeaten in ten of the first twelve competitive matches. The only two defeats of the season came against their perennial rival from Munich in the Supercup (4-2) and on Matchday six (3-1 at home).

So far, there has only been one competitive match between the sides when, in October 2017, VfL Wolfsburg won 6-0 against Union's women in the second round of the DFB Pokal.

However, two and a half months ago, they faced each other in a pre-season friendly. Union emerged as 2-0 victors, thanks to goals from Sophie Weidauer and Nele Bauereisen.

Last summer, assistant coach Sabrina Eckhoff and goalkeeper coach Alisa Vetterlein transferred from Wolfsburg to 1. FC Union Berlin. Eckhoff was active as an assistant coach from 2021 to 2025 and took over the role of head coach until the end of the season on an interim basis after the departure of head coach Tommy Stroot in April. Vetterlein played as a goalkeeper for Wolfsburg 69 times between 2009 and 2013 and celebrated the treble of championship, DFB Pokal, and Champions League in 2013. In 2019, she returned as a coach to VfL, working for the professional team from 2021. Together, Eckhoff and Vetterlein won one championship and three DFB Pokals as part of the coaching staff with the Grün-Weißen.

On the player side, Melanie Wagner, who was active for VfL Wolfsburg II from 2018 to 2022 (playing 13 matches), and Samantha Steuerwald, who made a total of 51 2. Liga appearances for the U20 team between 2015 and 2018, have a Wolfsburg past. 

Union's coaching team will have to make do without the services of Anna Aehling, Nele Bauereisen, Marina Georgieva, Hannah Eurlings, Jenny Hipp, Leonie Köster, Athanasia Moraitou, Tanja Pawollek, Naika Reissner, and Fatma Şakar on Tuesday evening.

“In Wolfsburg, a top team are coming to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. We want to throw everything we have into this game, tighten the spaces, and present ourselves with passion and unity,” said head coach Ailien Poese in the lead-up to the floodlit match.

Tickets for the match are on general sale at all Union Zeughaus stores and online. The Stadion An der Alten Försterei will open its gates and the ticket office at 17:30. 1. FC Union Berlin will provide a condolence book for the deceased Hans-Joachim Lesching, supervisory board and honorary member of the club, in the beer garden at Waldseite. All UUnion fans can sign there. Remaining parking spaces are available in front of the main stand for €8.