Preview | Union Berlin vs Hamburger SV: Baumgart plots revenge as he hosts reunion | OneFootball

Union Berlin welcome big city neighbours, Hamburger SV to Köpenick on Sunday evening for a historic first encounter in the Bundesliga.

Neither side have met in German’s top division before but both sides will be brimming with confidence.

Last weekend, the visitors defeated 1. FC Heidenheim 2-1, for their first league win of the season after defeats to city rivals FC St. Pauli (0-2) and FC Bayern Munich (0-5).

The Köpenickers picked up their second league win of the season, with a spectacularly 4-3 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, thanks to a hat-trick from Scotland forward, Oliver Burke.

A win for either side at this early stage of the season will calm any nerves of relegation and have fans dreaming of European qualification.

Union Berlin

Steffen Baumgart‘s side have been one of the most entertaining so far this season.

Union Berlin have been involved in 19 goals so far this season, conceding 7 and scoring 6 in their previous two games.

Union Berlin has conceded at least one goal in each of their last nine matches. Their last clean sheet was a 0-0 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on April 12th.

However, Baumgart will only be able to watch the game from the stands.

In the heated final moments of last weekend’s victory, Baumgart was sent off by referee, Sven Jablonski for foul language and a wayward middle finger.

A sideline ban and €15,000 fine means the former HSV coach will have to orchestrate Union from a distance.

After missing last week through suspension, Tom Rothe is likely to return to the starting line-up in defence.

Danilho Doekhi and Leopold Querfeld will certainly be called upon again in the three-man defense in front of Frederik Rönnow. Diogo Leite is also in contention to start.

Hamburger SV

After the opening day 0-0 draw to Monchengladbach in August, alarm bells were ringing at Hamburger SV.

HSV had not scored a league goal until last week and registered just 10 shots on target in their opening three games.

The win at home to Heidenheim will have settled some nerves but the visitors still dominated possession, chances, and forward passes.

Clinical finishing from Luka Vuskovic and Rayan Philippe gave HSV a vital confidence boost.

Vuskovic is a slight doubt through injury and HSV will also be without Yussuf Poulsen (thigh) Jordan Torunarigha (Achilles tendon) and Silvan Hefti (thigh).

This may free up Fabio Vieira to play a more advanced midfield role to support Ransford Kongsdorffer in game that will be characterised by an open, end-to-end style.

Head-to-head

Whilst Sunday will be the first time the two sides play eachother in the Bundesliga (7:30 p.m.) , it is 102 years since their first battle.

In 1923, HSV played Union Berlin in the final of the German championship.

As champions of the Association of Brandenburger Ballspielvereine (Brandenburg Football Clubs), the then SC Union Oberschöneweide eliminated 1. Bielefelder FC Arminia in the quarterfinals and sprung a surprised in the semifinals with a victory over heavy favourites, Spielvereinigung Fürth.

In the final, HSV ran out comfortable winners, 3-0.

Recently, Union Berlin have been the side to beat, running out 2-0 winners in 2019 thanks to two second half goals.

However, this game has special significance for Baumgart.

He was fired from HSV in November of last year after throwing away a two goal lead in a 2-2 draw against FC Schalke 04.

The team had lost 4-2 at Elversberg and 3-1 at Braunschweig in the weeks prior.

Assistant coach Merlin Polzin then took over the promotion mission and successfully secured it after seven long years of waiting. This week, Polzin spoke highly of his former boss.

“He was a guiding light, especially for me as a very young coach. Steffen gave me maximum support during the time I was earning my UEFA Pro license, which is another reason why I am very grateful for our collaboration.”

This weekend, Baumgart will be supporting Union Berlin from the stands and hoping his guiding light does not shine too brightly for HSV.

GGFN | Oscar O’Mara