As of now, Union Berlin are occupying third spot in the Bundesliga standings, while the visitors are sitting at the second position in the Belgian Pro League points table.
Follow Us
After being paired together in the group stage earlier this season, Union Berlin play host to Union SG in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at Alte Foersterei on Thursday. After finishing second in Group D, the hosts had to get the better of Ajax in the knockout round playoff tie last month to reach this far in the competition, while Union SG finished on top of the group to earn direct qualification to the round of 16 of Europe’s second-tier tournament. As of now, Union Berlin are occupying third spot in the Bundesliga standings, while the visitors are sitting at the second position in the Belgian Pro League points table.
It all began on Thursday September, 8th. The choreo read, “Football back where it belongs”. On Thursday March, 9th, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise will come back to the Alte Försterei, this time in the last 16. Where we both belong.
This is huge! See you there. Eisern! #FCUUSG pic.twitter.com/X3Y1KAc5g6— 1. FC Union Berlin (English) (@fcunion_en) March 6, 2023
Union Berlin finished their group-stage campaign with four wins and two defeats from six games, collecting 12 points, just a solitary point behind their Thursday’s opponents. And then, Urs Fischer’s side played out a goalless draw against Ajax in Netherlands before securing a thrilling 3-1 win in the second leg of their Playoff tie in Germany late in February. Robin Knoche, Josip Juranovic and Danilho Doekhi found the back of the net in front of their own supporters to help the Iron Ones enter the last-16 stage of the Europa League. Meanwhile, Union Berlin are heading into the match on the back of a goalless draw against FC Koln in the German top flight on Saturday. They have collected 44 points from 23 Bundesliga-games this season, five adrift of leaders Bayern Munich.
Union SG, on the other hand, have pocketed 59 points from 28 Belgian top flight games this season, eight adrift of leaders Genk. Their last outing against Eupen in the league ended in a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Simon Adingra and Yorbe Vertessen. Les Unionistes, who earned promotion to the top tier of Belgium football at the end of 2020-21 campaign, subsequently became the first club in the nation’s history to finish on top of the table at the end of the regular season directly after promotion. Meanwhile Karel Geraerts’ side missed out on claiming their first top flight title since 1935 after finishing second to Club Brugge in the end of season playoffs.
Union Berlin midfielder Andras Schafer is sidelined with a foot injury. Jordan Siebatcheu might partner Becker up front, with Khedira, Thorsby and Haberer running the engine room. As for Union SG, forward Dennis Eckert is out with a muscle strain, while the rest of the squad is fit and ready to go. Victor Boniface could replace Gustaf Nilsson up front.
Union Berlin Probable line-up: Ronnow, Doekhi, Knoche, Leite, Juranovic, Thorsby, Khedira, Haberer, Roussillon, Siebatcheu, Becker
Unio SG Probable line-up: Moris, Sykes, Burgess, Van Der Heyden, Lapoussin, Lynen, Teuma, amaniAdingra, Vertessen, Boniface
Union Berlin
| Opponents | Score |
| FC Koln | 0-0 (D) |
| Bayern Munich | 3-0 (L) |
| Ajax | 3-1 (W) |
| Schalke | 0-0 (D) |
| Ajax | 0-0 (D) |
Union SG
| Opponents | Score |
| Eupen | 2-1 (W) |
| Antwerp | 2-0 (L) |
| Westerlo | 4-2 (L) |
| St. Liege | 2-4 (L) |
| Club Brugge | 1-1 (D) |
| Last 3 match-results | Score |
| Union Berlin beat Union SG | 0-1 |
| Union SG beat Union Berlin | 0-1 |
| Union Berlin draw Union SG | 2-2 |
The UEFA Europa League match between Union Berlin and Union SG will take place at Alte Foersterei on Thursday at 11:15 pm IST.
| Union Berlin vs Union SG | Key Details |
| Date | March 9 |
| Venue | Alte Foersterei |
| Kickoff time in Germany | 6:45 pm |
| Kickoff time in Belgium | 6:45 pm |
| Kickoff time in India | 11:15 pm |
The live telecast of the Europa League between Union Berlin and Union SG can be seen on Sporza and Topik in Belgium. Meanwhile, those in Germany can catch the live action RTL +.
