Von B.Z./dpa
Union Berlin is back internationally. The Irons win 4-1 in Freiburg – that’s enough for at least seventh place and the conference league. Whether participation in the Europa League is even possible will be decided on the last day of the game against Bochum.
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1. FC Union Berlin is going on a European tour again. After the 4-1 win at SC Freiburg, the Irons are at least seventh in the Bundesliga and thus secure participation in an international competition.
Thanks to the success in Breisgau, coach Urs Fischer’s team even went into the last Bundesliga matchday sixth in the table and would secure participation in the Europa League with a home win against VfL Bochum next Saturday.
Jubilation from the Union after the goal to 1-0 Photo: City-Press GmbH
Even qualifying for the Champions League is theoretically possible if they manage to win against Bochum, RB Leipzig don’t win either of their two remaining games of the season and Freiburg don’t win against Bayer Leverkusen on the last day of the game.
It is more likely for the Irons to participate in the Europa League, for which the two Bundesliga participants automatically have a place in the group stage, which begins next season on September 8th. The last of six matchdays is on November 3rd, before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
Should Union slip to seventh place, the Köpenickers would be in the Conference League like this season. There they would have to survive a playoff against an opponent who has not yet been determined on August 18th and 25th in order to reach the group stage, which is played parallel to the Europa League.
Earlier this season, Union managed to qualify for the group stage of the new competition against Finnish side Kuopio PS. In the difficult group with finalists Feyenoord Rotterdam, Slavia Prague and Maccabi Haifa, qualification for the knockout phase was just missed.
Union will again have to play its international home games in the Olympic Stadium, which is unloved by the fans, as its own stadium at the Alte Försterei does not meet the UEFA criteria for seating capacity.
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