The She-Wolves host 1. FC Union Berlin on Sunday afternoon at the AOK Stadion. It marks the first home league match for the VfL women against the Iron Ones.
VfL Wolfsburg Women vs 1. FC Union Berlin Women – Frauen Bundesliga
Clean-Sheet Run Continues
The She-Wolves have completed five of eight matches within four weeks, all successfully. Three more challenges remain before the next international break: the Bundesliga clash with the promoted side from Köpenick, the second leg in the UEFA Women’s Champions League in Lyon, and the DFB Cup semi-final at FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
During the week, the Green-and-Whites secured a 1-0 first-leg win against Olympique Lyonnais after a battling performance. It was their third consecutive clean sheet. After two days off to recharge, the focus returns to the league.
There have only been two competitive meetings with Union so far. In 2017, the She-Wolves recorded a 6-0 win in Berlin in the second round of the DFB Cup, when Union played in the Frauen-Regionalliga Nordost. Wolfsburg also won 4-1 in the first half of this season in front of 7,254 spectators at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Despite Union taking the lead through a stunning direct corner from Antonia Halverkamps, the Green-and-Whites turned the game around with four second-half goals. A well-filled AOK Stadion is expected, with limited seated and standing tickets still available in the Wölfeshop.
Unbeaten in Four Matches
In their first Bundesliga season, the women of 1. FC Union Berlin have stabilized in mid-table and sit ninth with 26 points. Most recently, they won 4-1 at home against SV Werder Bremen. Prior to that, they drew 2-2 at RB Leipzig, beat 1. FC Köln 2-1, and drew 1-1 with SC Freiburg.
Several familiar faces from Wolfsburg are in the Union setup. Sabrina Eckhoff was part of the Green-and-Whites’ coaching staff last season and served as head coach toward the end. Alisa Vetterlein, treble-winning goalkeeper and VfL goalkeeping coach until 2025, has been at Union this season. Goalkeeper Julia Kassen and Samantha Steuerwald also have Green-and-White pasts.
Coach Ailien Poese will be without several players for the clash:
- Alma Aagaard
- Anna Aehling
- Cara Bösl
- Korina Janez
- Leonie Köster
- Mariann Noack
- Tomke Schneider
“The trip to Wolfsburg will be tough for us. We want to give everything on the pitch. We have to play well together and embrace the challenge. Then we’ll see what chances we get,” Poese said.
VfL Wolfsburg Head Coach Preview
Ahead of the match against 1. FC Union Berlin, VfL head coach Stephan Lerch addressed key aspects.
Squad Updates
Alexandra Popp, Lena Lattwein, and Kessya Bussy remain unavailable. Justine Kielland suffered knee irritation against Lyon, with a final decision after the last training session. Sophia Kleinherne has returned to team training and is on a good path, pending final confirmation.
Opposition Analysis
Union defend compactly and pose danger through targeted counter-attacks. Much effort was needed to turn the first meeting around, serving as a warning. They recently won convincingly against Bremen. It will be a major challenge requiring focus from the start.
Preparation Amid Tight Schedule
Keeping things simple is key. Positional adjustments, freshness, and recovery are crucial in this intense schedule. Analyzing opponents is challenging, but the team absorbs and implements quickly. Despite absences and workload, the handling has been strong, aiming to continue the success wave.
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