Women Looking to Bounce Back
Union Travel to Face SGS Essen
In their first Bundesliga away match of the year 1. FC Union Berlin's women's team will play SGS Essen on Saturday. Kick off at the Stadion an der Hafenstraße is at 14:00
The lie of the land
SGS Essen are still waiting for their first point in the second half of the season. After losing 4-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt before Christmas, the Lila-Weißen lost 2-1 to relegation rivals Hamburger SV last weekend, the winner coming from a controversial penalty in injury time.
The recent defeat against Hamburger SV saw SGS Essen slip back into the relegation spot in thirteenth place with nine points. HSV are now one point ahead, while Union, in tenth, have a six-point lead over SGS.
Overall, the form curve of the long-standing Bundesliga team has showed a significant improvement. While they only collected one point in the first nine matchdays and were firmly ensconced at the bottom of the table, they picked up eight points from the last four matches of the first half of the season. These included their first two league wins of the season against Bayer 04 Leverkusen (1-0) and 1. FC Nürnberg (2-0).
SGS parted ways with Robert Augustin after five games, following the 8-0 home defeat to VfL Wolfsburg. Interim coach, former assistant coach Jessica Wissman, however, managed to turn things around. Since the turn of the year, the Belgian Heleen Jaques has served as the new head coach, having previously worked at KAA Gent. In Essen, she trains among others her compatriot Shari Van Belle, who, with three of the entire team's 11 goals this season, is the most dangerous player in the weakest attacking team in the league.
In the first competitive match between the two teams earlier this season, Union secured their historic first ever Bundesliga win on matchday three. In front of over 7,000 spectators at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Union won 2-0 via an own goal and a strike from Sophie Weidauer.
Union's coaching staff will have to do without Anna Aehling, Korina Janež, Mariann Noack, Tomke Schneider, Judith Steinert, and Sophie Weidauer on Saturday. Additionally, Jenny Hipp is suspended, having received her fifth yellow card against Leverkusen.
"Essen became very stable towards the end of the second half of the league season. Particularly in defence as well as during transitional moments, they have shown good developmen," said Union head coach, Ailien Poese, during mid-week. "We want to build on the good moments from the last match and deliver a solid performance for 90 minutes to bring three points back to Köpenick."
Tickets for the match are still available at the SGS Essen ticket shop. Block E4 is designated as the away block. A box office will open in front of the WAZ stand at 13:00, and the stadium gates will open at the same time. Parking Lot P2 (behind the WAZ-West Curve) is available for all spectators. Parking tickets can be purchased on-site for €5 (cash only).
The match will be broadcast live in Germany on DAZN and MagentaSport. Union will provide German updates on the match on their live ticker, and in English on twitter. As ever a conprehensive English match report will be published on the Union website after the final whistle.
