Chemnitzer FC play host to Union Berlin at Stadion an der Gellertsrabe in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Monday.
The hosts progressed to the semi-final of Germany’s main domestic cup in 1993, while Union Berlin were runner-up in 2001.
Chemnitzer finished fifth in Regionaliga Nordost last season as they failed to return to the third tier of German football for the second successive campaign, but they do have pedigree in the DFB-Pokal.
They were prevented from reaching a maiden final in the aforementioned 1992-93 campaign by Hertha Berlin’s reserve team, but they have progressed past the first round in six of the seasons since that record run deep into the competition.
The primary focus of Christian Tiffert will be guiding his side back into 3. Liga, where they spent seven successive seasons between 2011 and 2018, with the long-term goal being returning to 2. Bundesliga, which they last participated in 2001 before running into financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, Union Berlin are the model club for those in the lower tiers to aspire to having gone from strength to strength since being promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history in 2019.
Urs Fischer, who was promoted in his first season in charge of the club after taking over in 2018, has administered gradual yet remarkable progression in the shape of 11th, seventh and fifth-placed finishes in the Bundesliga.
Union Berlin were only a point away from securing Champions League football last season for the first time in the club’s history, but instead they will compete in the Europa League for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign, which was earned as a result of the aforementioned DFB-Pokal final defeat to Schalke 04 in the previous season.
Fischer will also ensure they continue to progress on the domestic and European stages.
Chemnitzer FC vs Union Berlin head to head
The two teams have previously met on six occasions across all competitions, where Chemnitzer have claimed one victory while Union Berlin have won four, and they have drawn once. Chemnitzer have scored six goals and conceded 12. In their last meeting, Union Berlin claimed a 3-1 home victory in a friendly.
Union Berlin 1-1 Chemnitzer FC 28/04/05
Chemnitzer FC 1-2 Union Berlin 19/01/13
Union Berlin 3-1 Chemnitzer FC 22/11/16
Chemnitzer FC 1-3 Union Berlin 04/07/18
Union Berlin 3-1 Chemnitzer FC 05/09/19
Chemnitzer FC latest home form
Chemnitzer FC have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their six most recent matches. They managed to defeat Viktoria Berlin 2-0 in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 12 goals and conceded four.
Chemnitzer FC 1-1 Carl Zeiss Jena 22/04/22
Chemnitzer FC 5-0 Tasmania Berlin 15/05/22
Chemnitzer FC 2-1 Chemie Leipzig 21/05/22
Chemnitzer FC 2-2 Pribram 15/07/22
Chemnitzer FC 2-0 Viktoria Berlin 23/07/22
Chemnitzer FC latest away form
Chemnitzer FC have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their 10 most recent matches. They managed to defeat Plauen 2-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded two.
Motor Wilsdruft 0-2 Chemnitzer FC 19/04/22
ZFC Meuselwitz 1-1 Chemnitzer FC 29/04/22
Auerbach 1-4 Chemnitzer FC 08/05/22
Hallescher FC 0-2 Chemnitzer FC 10/07/22
Plauen 0-2 Chemnitzer FC 20/07/22
Union Berlin latest home form
Union Berlin have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their 10 most recent matches. They managed to defeat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in their last home game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded four.
Union Berlin 1-1 Greuther Furth 29/04/22
Union Berlin 3-2 Bochum 14/05/22
Union Berlin 2-1 Bohemians 09/07/07/22
Union Berlin 1-0 Ceske Budejovice 15/07/22
Union Berlin 1-0 Nottingham Forest 23/07/22
Union Berlin latest away form
Union Berlin have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They drew 3-3 with Udinese in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded seven.
Freiburg 1-4 Union Berlin 07/05/22
Viktoria Berlin 1-3 Union Berlin 29/06/22
Magdeburg 1-4 Union Berlin 02/07/22
Eintracht Braunschweig 1-0 Union Berlin 06/07/22
Udinese 3-3 Union Berlin 16/07/22
Chemnitzer FC news
Chemnitzer FC will take to the pitch without the services of Furkan Kirciek and Jasin Jusic due to muscle and knee injuries respectively.
Head coach Tiffert is likely to retain the same XI who started in the 2-0 friendly victory over Viktoria Berlin last weekend, while Tobias Muller will captain the side.
Union Berlin news
Union Berlin will be without Timo Baumgartl, as the defender continues to recover from his testicular cancer diagnosis, while Fabio Schneider is close to returning from his medial collateral ligament injury.
Fischer could use the same XI who defeated Nottingham Forest in the final pre-season game, while Taiwo Awoniyi departed to Forest.
Prediction and Odds
With the home advantage, Chemnitzer are expected to give their Bundesliga opponents a tough match in the sides’ first competitive game of the season.
However, Union Berlin should ultimately have a little too much quality, as they look to build on last season’s remarkable league finish by juggling three competitions.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.10
Probable outcomes
Chemnitzer FC 0-1 Union Berlin
Chemnitzer FC 0-2 Union Berlin
Chemnitzer FC 1-2 Union Berlin
Chemnitzer FC 1-3 Union Berlin
Chemnitzer FC 1-1 Union Berlin
