Form: Expanded horizons
Sitting in seventh place with 38 points after 25 rounds of matches, Union are just four points adrift of fifth spot, allowing the club to dream of European qualification.
Urs Fischer’s side picked up just four points from their first four games of the second half of the season, but they are currently unbeaten in their last five outings, drawing three and winning two, including a 2-1 triumph over 1. FC Köln last weekend.
| 1. FC Union Berlin 2020/21 | |
|---|---|
| Stats | 9 wins, 11 draws, 5 defeats, 38:27 goal difference, 38 points, 7th in the table |
| Form | D-W-D-D-W |
| Goalscorers | Kruse (8), Awoniyi (5), Andrich (4), Friedrich (4), Becker (3), Teuchert (3), Ingvartsen (2), Pohjanpalo (2), Prömel (2), Bülter (1), Endo (1), Knoche (1), Schlotterbeck (1), Trimmel (1) |
Tactics: Compact, hard-running, counter-attacking
Fischer has recently preferred a 3-5-2 formation and his charges have been solid at the back; only Leipzig and Wolfsburg have conceded fewer goals (both 21) than Union’s total of 27. They pride themselves on their compact backline, fighting spirit and willingness to cover a lot of ground.
The capital city club burst forward quicky when they win possession, and they are also dangerous at set pieces, scoring 15 of their 38 goals this term from dead-ball situations.
One to watch: Christopher Trimmel
Trimmel has been at Union since July 2014 and is able to operate both at right-back and on the right of midfield. In 220 competitive games for the club to date, the 34-year-old has registered three goals and 49 assists. In 2019/20 Trimmel was Union’s most potent creative outlet with eight assists, and he leads the way this season too with six.
The Austrian scored his first Bundesliga goal last weekend and the fact it was the winner is fitting considering his leadership qualities as club captain.
