Bundesliga – Will Union Berlin be able to turn the trend around with strong Heidenheimers at home?
IMAGO / Beautiful Sports
Audio: rbb24 Inforadio | 28.09.2023 | Miriam Sinno | Image: Imago / Beautiful Sports
A newcomer is waiting in front of Braga and Dortmund: After four competitive defeats in a row, Union Berlin will be visiting 1. FC Heidenheim on Saturday. The Bundesliga newcomer has already caused problems for many favorites.
Five facts about the game The two clubs have only met twelve times in competitive games to date; with the better record for the Heidenheimers (six wins, two draws, four defeats) Heidenheim’s long-time coach Frank Schmidt was on the bench for all twelve duels. The last encounter was not that long ago – and is one that the Unioners remember will like to remember: In the 2nd round of the DFB Cup, the Eisernen beat the FCH 2-0 at the Alte Försterei in October 2022. The Köpenickers have recently lost four competitive games in a row – there was a longer series of defeats for the FCU under coach Urs Fischer never Union has only scored one goal in those four competitive games
The opponent expert
Dominic Köstler was born in 1997 and has been a fan of 1. FC Heidenheim since birth: “The maternity ward is only 500 meters from the stadium,” he says.
Since August 2015 he has been reporting on FCH games as a fan and blind reporter.
The opponent check
This is how things work in sport at 1. FC Heidenheim
1. FC Heidenheim is competing in the 1st Bundesliga for the first time this season – and has started the season very well. After five match days, FCH is in 13th place with four points. Union Berlin (10th place, six points) is therefore within striking distance. “If someone had told me that before the season, I would have signed it immediately,” says Dominic Köstler, who accompanies FCH games as a fan and blind reporter. “To get the first Bundesliga point in the club’s history after a 2-0 deficit in Dortmund is quite an announcement.”
In conversation with the Heidenheim expert it quickly becomes clear: the supporters of the Bundesliga newcomer are more than satisfied with the way the season has gone so far – but especially with their team’s performances. “Of course we came under the wheels in the 4-1 defeat in Leverkusen, but compared to other teams, Heidenheim still tries to play the game and play along. That was actually the best realization of the season so far: that we don’t just sit back and play “We have a plan and a philosophy,” says Köstler.
“We don’t need to hide from anyone. At home we are a power – the opponents have to stand their ground first.” In the promotion season, the Heidenheimers only lost one home game; in the Bundesliga they last beat SV Werder Bremen 4-2 at home. The Union team’s lack of form also plays into Heidenheim’s hands, says Köstler, who also hopes before the duel with the Berliners on Saturday (3:30 p.m.): “Maybe they won’t go at it with 100 percent if the opponent is only Heidenheim and is not called Real Madrid.”
That moves the fans
“We are just happy. A few years ago no one would have dared to dream that we would play in the Bundesliga. We are reaping the fruits of years of development work,” said Köstler. “The club knew at all times what to do and where it belonged. In Heidenheim you can work constantly and calmly, everything has a system and mistakes can also be made.”
One person embodies the Heidenheim success story like no other: coach Frank Schmidt, who has been on the sidelines at FCH for more than 16 years – longer than any other coach in the history of German professional football. “Fans, the club and Frank Schmidt know what they have in each other. I think it’s cool how calm and humble Frank Schmidt deals with it, he doesn’t draw the focus on himself at all,” says Köstler about the club legend.
Union has to pay attention to this player
That’s what Union’s coach says
Urs Fischer: “The Heidenheimers are doing well. They are a team with a lot of mentality and running strength, especially against the ball they are very aggressive and always try to press. They are very determined and don’t take a lot of risks.”
This is how Union could play
Union will still have to do without the two injured top performers Rani Khedira and Robin Knoche in Heidenheim. Kevin Volland is still missing due to a red card suspension. Fischer emphasizes: “If you take the first five Bundesliga games, we couldn’t play with the same formation once. I don’t think that helps when it comes to stability.” About veteran Leonardo Bonucci, the When he made his Bundesliga debut against Hoffenheim, the coach said: “Logically, I talked to him. We did an analysis with him. He hasn’t been there long. It’s about processes, about principles that he has to internalize. “
Union’s possible starting eleven: Rönnow – Doekhi, Bonucci, Leite – Gosens, Tousart, Trimmel – Haberer, Laidouni – Becker, Behrens
forecast
The Köpenickers are the favorites going into the game against the Bundesliga newcomers, but as is well known, they have been anything but in good form recently. The Heidenheimers, who are strong at home, will once again go into the game with a courageous playing system and will do everything in their power to annoy the Union team. “They have enough power to be dangerous. Their standards should not be underestimated, they are really very dangerous,” warns FCU coach Fischer.
Editor’s tip: The 1. FC Union Berlin averted their fifth defeat in a row, but couldn’t get more than a 1-1 draw in Heidenheim and returned to Berlin with a point in their luggage.
Opponent expert tip: “I bet on a 3-1 home win in the family betting game – and I’m sticking with it,” says Köstler.
Broadcast: rbb24, September 28, 2023, 6 p.m
2023-09-28 19:18:17
#Union #Berlin #succeed #turning #trend #Heidenheimers #strong #home
