Union Berlin have been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride this season, with some wild and fiercely-contested matches alternating with low-scoring encounters. Coach Steffen Baumgart stabilised the team early on, reverting to a compact back three or five and relying on physical presence, discipline and quick transitional play. Ahead of the Bundesliga clash with FC Bayern on Saturday at 15:30 CET we take a look at the Berliners' current form and tactical approach - from defence to midfield to attack.
Results and form
It's been a season of ups and downs for the Union fans so far. Die Eisernen (the Irons) have won three, drawn two and lost four matches, and Baumgart's side have yet to win two league games in a row. The Berliners did beat struggling Gladbach 3-1 but then narrowly lost 1-0 to Werder Bremen. Captain Christopher Trimmel & Co. scraped into the DFB Cup round of 16 after beating Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 after extra-time, but that was followed by a goalless draw at home to Freiburg which indicated no clear positive trend. Midfielder András Schäfer spoke about a hard-fought game, "but one in which we also put in a battling performance." Rani Khedira summed up the match just as aptly: "It was a classic battle of attrition between the two sides. Unfortunately, there were very few scoring opportunities, especially for us."
Baumgart's system change: stability over enjoyment
That's nothing new at Union this season. After a brief foray into a more attacking style of play, Baumgart has returned to tried-and-tested structures. Instead of the bolder 4-4-2, the coach has once again opted for a back three or back five, which has made the Berliners more stable and secure. The step back isn't a step backwards, but shows pragmatism - a commitment to what made Union strong. Baumgart has recognised that his current squad is better suited to this compact approach: robust centre-backs, physically strong wingers and a team who are united and disciplined.
The defence: Baumgart's pragmatic course
The defence is once again the foundation at the heart of the side. Union want to be difficult to play against and tightly staggered in the gaps. "We want to be the team opponents describe with the words 'they hurt'," the head coach announced at the start of the season. Hard tackling is clearly part of Union's identity under Baumgart. They lead the stats with 135 fouls committed - an illustration of their uncompromising, intense style. The fact that the Berliners have been shown the third-highest number of yellow cards in the Bundesliga (22) is consistent with the overall picture: Union play with high intensity, are happy to go into tackles - and even accept a caution if necessary.
The team are nicknamed the ‘Irons’ for good reason. At 1.89 metres tall, Diogo Leite is still the ‘smallest’ of the three centre-backs, while Leopold Querfeld (1.90) and Danilho Doekhi (1.91) have just as little trouble dealing with high balls. The Berliners have won 190 aerial challenges to date - only three clubs are ahead of them in this statistic. Union not only usually defend deep and tightly when faced with long balls, but also make it difficult for their opponents to link up: the gaps between the lines are narrow, quick link-up play via the centre is rarely possible and attacks are consistently channelled out to the flanks.
The midfield: crossing specialists who provide structure
In veteran Christopher Trimmel on the right and new signings Derrick Köhn and Tom Rothe on the left, they have players on the flanks who primarily deploy sharp crosses to press the attack. In contrast, Union consciously take few risks in their own build-up play. At 72.9 per cent, the Berliners have the lowest pass completion rate of all Bundesliga teams. While Rani Khedira primarily acts as a defensive anchor in central midfield, Aljoscha Kemlein impresses with his clean passing and ball control.
However, being creative and enjoying the game are of secondary importance in Union's tactical philosophy; the crucial factor is stability. This was also evident in the recent cup win in Bielefeld: the team defended deep, worked consistently without the ball and waited patiently for transitional moments. In this phase, Berlin are focusing on reliability rather than enjoyment - with clear processes, high intensity and the aim of making the game as awkward as possible for their opponents. The focus is on winning the ball in midfield or picking up second balls and then quickly counter-attacking.
The attack: ambush-style counter-attacking
Possession is not an end in itself - instead, Baumgart's team look for a direct route forward as soon as the opportunity presents itself. The first port of call for most forays up front is the burly centre-forward Andrej Ilić (1.89 metres tall). The target man is usually flanked by Ilyas Ansah (1.94) and Oliver Burke (1.88), who utilise their athleticism and physical presence in making deep runs in behind. Horst Heldt and his staff brought in the entire front line in the summer - and appear to have made some good choices.
Ilić has been the Irons' best provider so far with four assists. He skilfully shields the ball and, with pin-point passes sets up Ansah and Burke, who with four and three goals respectively are the Union attacking life insurance policy. When carrying out attacks like this, the ball never stays in Union's possession for long: On average, they only have around 37 per cent of the play - lower than any other Bundesliga team. Once the Berliners get hold of the ball, they head straight for goal.
This season, Union are once again a side who are not easy to play against. Anyone who underestimates Die Eisernen will quickly realise that they are awkward, physically strong and tactically well set up. For FC Bayern, this means absolute focus from the very first minute when it comes to finding the gaps in Berlin's solid defence.
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