Gotta get some coffee ...

Union Women Host Eintracht Frankfurt II

2. Liga Stalwarts Come to Köpenick

Thu, 10. October 2024
Union Women Host Eintracht Frankfurt II

On Sunday, 1. FC Union Berlin's women's team will face Eintracht Frankfurt II in the 7th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga. Kick off at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is at 14:00

The lie of the land

After a disppointing start, Eintracht II have not lost in the 2. Bundesliga for three games. Two defeats against VfL Bochum (0-1) and 1. FC Nürnberg (0-4) were followed by a 2-1 win against FSV Gütersloh, a draw against SC Freiburg II (0-0) and a 1-0 win against FC Ingolstadt last weekend. With seven points from five games, they are currently in 9th in the table.

Union, meanwhile, regained the top spot in the table last weekend with a 2-1 away win at SC Sand. Dina Orschmann, with her fourth goal of the season, and Sarah Abu Sabbah, with her second, scored the goals in the away game in Willstätt. Union are unbeaten in the league and have won all their last five games.

Opponent check

Since the founding of the 2. Bundesliga in 2004, Eintracht Frankfurt II are the only team to have been represented in all 21 seasons and thus bear the title of ‘league dinosaur’. However, until the merger with Eintracht in 2020, the U20 team still played as 1. FFC Frankfurt II. In the all-time table of the 2. Liga, they are ranked fourth behind FSV Gütersloh, Turbine Potsdam II and SV Meppen. Their best finish in the long history of the second division was their third place in 2014/15, when the league was still divided into north and south sections. However, Frankfurt II have mostly found themselves in the middle of the table, as reflected in their placings in the last two years – 9th and 8th.

In the summer, Eintracht II strengthened their squad with the addition of long-standing Bundesliga player Michaela Specht. The 27-year-old centre-back made a total of 122 Bundesliga appearances for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and is now set to lead the way as a key player in the young Frankfurt team. However, Specht will not only strengthen the team on the pitch, but will also be responsible for scouting and analysis. In doing so, the former U17 European champion will also support the coaching team of Friederike Kromp and Julia Simic, who have been on the touchlines in Frankfurt since 2023. Both have also appeared as TV experts in recent years.

Three Eintracht players were part of the German national team squad for the U20 World Cup in Colombia in September. Among them was Sophie Nachtigall, who already has a professional contract and was also the German team's second top scorer with three tournament goals. Centre-back Jella Veit, who was also part of the squad in Colombia, has already made her Bundesliga debut.

It is still uncertain whether the two players will be on the pitch in Köpenick on Sunday. Both have made one second-division appearance each this season, but have also been in the Bundesliga squad.

The personnel 

Union head coach Ailien Poese will still have to do without Maria Cristina Lange and Katja Orschmann on Sunday. In addition, Sarah Abu Sabbah and Zita Rurack will not be available.

The coach's views ahead of the game

"In Eintracht Frankfurt II, a strong and versatile U20 team are coming to the Alte Försterei," said Poese during midweek. "The team have impressed in the past with individual quality and a clear plan. We will take them on, keep the defence stable and be variable in possession to get the next three points." 

Service information

The stadium An der Alten Försterei will open its gates and ticket office at 12:30. Tickets for the game are also available online and at all Union's zeughaus stores.

To avoid long lines at the entrances, we ask that you arrive in good time. There are a few parking spaces left in the car park in front of the main stand, as well as at the ball sports hall on Hämmerlingstraße. The parking fee is €4 for both.

The game will be broadcast live on AFTV+. There will also be a live ticker for the game, as well as updates in English and Spanish on Twitter.