Hospitances and hopefuls: Union challenges RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig and Union Berlin are under pressure. The fifth-placed team from Saxony is the only team to have lost all three Bundesliga games this year. Union, 15th in the table, are far from being rid of all relegation worries. On Sunday (17:30/Dazn), the two sides will go head-to-head.

Shaky attack: The weak attack is responsible for Union's Bundesliga misery. 18 goals in 18 games - only Cologne and Mainz are even more harmless in attack. The team from Köpenick have therefore completely revamped their attack. Sheraldo Becker, David Fofana and Kevin Behrens are gone. The new hopefuls are Yorbe Vertessen and Chris Bedia. Vertessen could make his debut for the Iron against Leipzig.

Weak defense: After conceding eight goals in three games recently, Rose may not just change the goalkeeper. After all, Mohamed Simakan is also suspended. Defender Willi Orban is set to make his comeback (starting eleven). "We'll have a look at the final training session on Saturday so I can get a feel for what makes sense. Maybe not for 90 minutes, that's clear, but Willi is an important factor, an important player for us who has got himself into good shape," said Rose.

Returner: Defender Dnailo Doekhi hasn't played a game for the Köpenickers since October. The Dutchman is now set to make his comeback against the struggling fifth-placed team from Saxony. "It's his turn. He'll be a candidate for Sunday, possibly even for the starting eleven," announced Eta. There will also be a Bundesliga comeback at RB. Peter Gulacsi will be in goal against Union instead of Janis Blaswich. "We are changing because we see the overall situation. We want to provide new impetus," said Rose. After tearing his cruciate ligament on October 5, 2022, Hungarian international goalkeeper Gulacsi slowly worked his way up. The 33-year-old former captain has already gained match experience this season in the Champions League against Bern and in the DFB Cup.

First a guest coach, now an opponent: Union assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta spent a week at Cottaweg in 2022 as part of her pro license training and looked over the shoulder of RB coach Marco Rose. "I was able to take away a lot for myself personally," reported the 32-year-old. Rose attests to her great development. "She's earned it, she's worked for it, she's got quality, you could tell that during the week with us. She has personality. She does it just as well as a man," he said, adding: "We always talk about the fact that we always like to see women in male domains. And yet we always feel we have to make something special out of it. When Loui is on the line, the camera is pointed at her 20 times."