News Focus
- Union Berlin host FC Augsburg in the final Bundesliga fixture of the campaign
- Interim manager Marie-Louise Eta oversees her farewell match before switching to the women’s team
- Augsburg aim to break an 11-year absence from European competition
- Both clubs deal with significant injury and suspension problems
- The visitors hold a strong recent record at this venue
Union Berlin welcome FC Augsburg to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei for the season’s last match. The hosts occupy 12th place in the table. They have secured nine victories, nine draws and 15 defeats from 33 outings.
The Iron Ones ended a six-match winless run last weekend. They claimed a 3-1 victory away at Mainz 05. The fixture seemed set for a 1-1 draw until late goals from Oliver Burke and Josip Juranović sealed the points. This success marked the first win under caretaker boss Marie-Louise Eta.
Eta will manage the men’s side for the final time this weekend. The 34-year-old then begins her new position as head coach of Union’s women’s team. She hopes to secure back-to-back league victories. The club has not managed this since December.
However, history suggests a home win will prove difficult. Union have not beaten Augsburg on their own turf since a 2-0 triumph in January 2020.
The hosts face several absences. Goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow is injured. Defenders Matheo Raab and David Preu also miss out. Left-back Derrick Köhn serves a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.
Predicted Union Berlin lineup: Klaus; Trimmel, Doekhi, Leite, Rothe; Khedira, Kemlein; Burke, Ansah, Burcu; Ilić
Augsburg sit in ninth position after 12 wins, seven draws and 14 losses. The visitors remain unbeaten across their last six matches. They have taken maximum points from their previous four games. Recent victories include 3-1 successes against Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
These results give Manuel Baum’s side an outside chance of European qualification. The Fuggerstädter trail sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt by a single point. They sit two points behind seventh-placed SC Freiburg, who currently hold the Conference League spot.
Augsburg must win to challenge for seventh place. They also require both Frankfurt and Freiburg to fail to win their respective matches. A draw would leave them relying on complex calculations from other results.
The away side have fared well at this ground in recent years. They have avoided defeat on their last five visits, including a 2-0 victory here last season.
Augsburg also report fitness concerns. Defenders Dimitrios Giannoulis and Arthur Chaves are sidelined through injury. Midfielder Kristijan Jakić is suspended after receiving too many yellow cards.
Predicted Augsburg lineup: Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Zesiger; Wolf, Massengo, Rieder, Fellhauer; Kade, Kömür, Gregoritsch