Union Berlin vs FC Cologne – News and Probable Lineups

Marie-Louise Eta, the interim head coach for Union Berlin, aims to make history this Saturday by securing her first victory against FC Koln.

The current head coach has gained international recognition as the first female manager in Europe’s top five leagues and will now pit her skills against a Koln team that has not celebrated an away win since October.

Match overview

It is no exaggeration to state that Union Berlin stunned the football community last month by appointing the Bundesliga’s inaugural female head coach, replacing Steffen Baumgart.

Despite the significant media attention surrounding her arrival, Eta has yet to experience a lift in morale from her players, having suffered defeats in her first two fixtures against Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig.

Currently enduring a three-match losing streak, the atmosphere at Union is growing increasingly concerning as the team slips further down the Bundesliga standings.

At present, Die Eisernen find themselves six points clear of the relegation playoff position, implying that the situation could turn perilous should they fail to secure points in their remaining matches.

One of the major challenges for Eta involves rectifying Union’s porous defence, which has conceded an alarming 13 goals over their last five fixtures – the highest in the league during this period.

Additionally, conceding early in matches has become a troubling trend, as Union has fallen behind within the first 25 minutes in each of their last four games.

Koln found themselves in dire relegation jeopardy at the start of March, but thanks to a series of commendable performances in recent weeks, they have managed to turn their fortunes around.

Rene Wagner’s squad initiated the spring season with an impressive five-match unbeaten streak, collecting seven vital points along the way.

However, their unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt last weekend with a disappointing 2-1 loss in the derby against Bayer Leverkusen – marking their first defeat since early March.

The Billy Goats head into the weekend five points clear of the relegation playoff zone, indicating there is still considerable effort required to ensure their safety in the top tier.

Much like Union, Koln’s Achilles heel resides in their defence, as the team has failed to register a clean sheet in their last 11 games.

Furthermore, they are winless in their last 11 away matches, which represents their worst period on the road since 2017.

Union Berlin Bundesliga form:

W L D L L L

FC Koln Bundesliga form:

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Team News

Union Berlin is once again relying on third-choice goalkeeper Carl Klaus, who made his Bundesliga debut during last weekend’s 3-1 defeat against RB Leipzig.

Frederik Ronnow and Matheo Raab are sidelined due to groin and hand injuries, respectively, giving Klaus another chance to impress this Saturday.

In addition to the goalkeeping issue, midfielder Woo-Yeong Jeong has been unavailable for the last three matches due to a knock and remains a doubt for this weekend.

Forward Robert Skov has only participated in three games this season due to a muscle injury, and Union will continue to miss his presence.

On the other side, Koln will be without their Icelandic midfielder Isak Johannesson, who is suspended.

In terms of injuries, the Billy Goats will also be without the attacking capabilities of Ragnar Ache, who missed the last derby due to a muscle problem.

Defenders Timo Hubers and Luca Kilian are also on the injury list for Koln, both recovering from knee injuries.

Union Berlin probable starting XI:

Klaus; Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite; Trimmel, Khedira, Kemlein, Kohn; Schaefer, Burke; Ilic

FC Koln probable starting XI:

Swabian; Zebulonsen, Simpson-Pusey, Ozakacar, Castro-Montes; Maina, Krauss, Martel, Kaminski; Bulter, El Mala

We anticipate that Union head coach Eta will achieve a landmark victory this weekend by securing her first win.

While Union may not be in peak form, they will benefit from home advantage versus a side grappling with significant struggles on the road.