With six points from 14 matches, FC Carl Zeiss Jena are currently at the bottom of the table, and though they have those two postponed matches in hand, they are against heavyweights, VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern München. Jena showed in the first half of the season that they can also act as a stumbling block in these games. They can draw some solace from the  fact they are the only side to  take points of Bayeern this season, when they drew 0-0 in the third game of the season.

However, since then, Jena  have only collected further points from the draws against Hamburg and Essen, and their sole league win of the season when they defeated 1. FC Köln 1-0. FCC's situation looks much better in the DFB Pokal, which brings painful memories for Sunday's hosts. In the round of 16, Jena won  1-0 at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei,  and coach Florian Kästner's team will meet the only remaining second division team in the competition, SC Sand, in March. Should they succeed, it would be a first semi-final since taking over the playing license from FF USV Jena in 2020. The predecessor club reached the final in 2010.

To find their way back on track in the league, the 'Blau-Gelben' strengthened their squad in the winter with two new signings with international experience. The Swedish forward Olivia Alcaide transferred from Fenerbahçe SK to Jena, and center-back Lara Schenk was also signed. Since leaving Germany in 2021, the 26-year-old has played in four different countries: the USA, Belgium, Spain, and most recently with the Montreal Roses in Canada.

The two encounters between the sides this season are also the only competitive matches between the two clubs so far. Much more pleasing than the cup match for Union was the  first meeting in the league, when a late 2-1 away win was celebrated thanks to a goal in stoppage time by Dina Orschmann, joining her twin sister, Katja, on the scoresheet.

Goalkeeper Julia Kassen left FCC again after half a year to join Union this winter; the 23-year-old had played five times in the Regionalliga Jena's U20s in the first half of the season. Anna Weiß had a significantly longer time in Jena, having played for FF USV/FC Carl Zeiss Jena for eight years between 2015 and 2023. The right-back played a total of 133 competitive matches for Jena and was promoted to the Bundesliga twice.

On the other side, there are also two players with a Union background: Gwen Mummert and Josephine Bonsu joined the U17 of 1. FC Union Berlin in 2015 and subsequently made their mark on the women's team. Centre-back Mummert played 21 league matches for Union from 2016 to 2018, while winger Bonsu moved up to the women's team in 2018 after two years in the U23s and scored 13 goals in 31 Regionalliga matches over the following three years.

Union's coaching staff will have to do without the services of Alma Aagaard, Anna Aehling, Antonia Halverkamps, Korina Janež, Mariann Noack, and Tomke Schneider on Saturday.

“Jena have not played any competitive matches this year yet. Regardless of that, we want to bring a lot of intensity and fight, as well as good phases in our attacking play to the pitch," said Union head coach, Ailien Poese, during midweek. "We want to defend well on the the break.” 

Tickets for the match are available for general sale in all Union's Zeughaus stores as well as online. The Stadion An der Alten Försterei will open its gates and the ticket office at 15:00.

There are still extensive traffic disruptions in public transport; arriving via the tram lines “Altstadt Köpenick” is also only possible with a rail replacement service. Therefore, all visitors are recommended to arrive early. Remaining parking spots are available in front of the main stand for €8.

Hämmerlingstraße is closed to all road users, including pedestrians. This also affects the underpass at the rail line corner of Am Bahndamm/Hämmerlingstraße. The official detour leads via Bahnhofstraße and Seelenbinderstraße into Hämmerlingstraße.