The stage is set at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt this Sunday, September 21, 2025, for a Bundesliga encounter between Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin. Kick-off is scheduled for 13:30 UTC. As the German top flight continues to unfold, this match presents a clash of ambitions: a high-flying Eintracht looking to solidify their impressive start to the season against a Union Berlin side desperately seeking to turn their fortunes around after a shaky opening period. What’s at stake goes beyond three points; for Frankfurt, it’s about maintaining momentum and proving their European credentials, while for Union, it’s a critical opportunity to halt a worrying slide and rediscover the resilience that has defined them in recent years.
Head-to-Head History
In their encounters, Eintracht Frankfurt has generally held the upper hand against Union Berlin. Across 20 total matches between the two clubs, Eintracht Frankfurt has secured 10 victories, while Union Berlin has managed 4 wins, with the remaining 6 matches ending in draws.
However, recent history paints a slightly different picture. Union Berlin has not been defeated in their last three Bundesliga matches against Eintracht. Their most recent clash at Deutsche Bank Park saw Union Berlin emerge victorious with a 2-1 scoreline. Eintracht’s last Bundesliga win against Union dates back to November 2023, a commanding 3-0 away victory.
Looking at the last five competitive meetings:
- March 9, 2025: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- October 27, 2024: Union Berlin vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
- March 30, 2024: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- November 4, 2023: Union Berlin vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
- April 4, 2023: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Union Berlin (DFB Pokal)
At Deutsche Bank Park specifically, Eintracht Frankfurt holds a record of four wins, one draw, and two losses in seven prior head-to-head fixtures.
Current Form & Team News
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt enters this fixture in robust form, currently sitting fifth in the Bundesliga standings. Their confidence will be sky-high following a dominant 5-1 thrashing of Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League midweek, a match where Can Uzun, Jonathan Burkardt, and Ansgar Knauff all found the net. However, their last Bundesliga outing resulted in a 3-1 defeat away to Bayer Leverkusen, highlighting some vulnerabilities from set pieces.
Eintracht’s last five competitive matches (W-D-L format):
- vs. Galatasaray (H): W 5-1 (UCL)
- vs. Bayer Leverkusen (A): L 1-3 (Bundesliga)
- vs. Hoffenheim (A): W 3-1 (Bundesliga)
- vs. Werder Bremen (H): W 4-1 (Bundesliga)
- vs. Engers (A): W 5-0 (DFB Pokal)
Team News:
Eintracht Frankfurt faces some uncertainty with key midfielder Mario Götze, who is a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test. Right-back Rasmus Kristensen is sidelined with a thigh injury sustained against Leverkusen, with Nathaniel Brown expected to deputise. Jessic Ngankam is also out with a thigh problem. Key players like Hugo Larsson are crucial for dictating attacks, while the pace of forwards like Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitiké (from previous season analysis) remains a significant threat.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin, conversely, is enduring a challenging start to the season, currently placed 14th in the Bundesliga. Their initial 2-1 victory over Stuttgart has been overshadowed by consecutive league defeats, including a damaging 4-2 loss to Hoffenheim last week and a 3-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund.
Union’s last five competitive matches (W-D-L format):
- vs. Hoffenheim (H): L 2-4 (Bundesliga)
- vs. Borussia Dortmund (A): L 0-3 (Bundesliga)
- vs. Stuttgart (H): W 2-1 (Bundesliga)
- vs. FC Gütersloh (A): W 5-0 (DFB Pokal)
(Note: The friendly draw against Altglienicke on September 3, 2025 is excluded from the competitive form summary for clarity).
Team News:
Union Berlin will be without full-back Tom Rothe, who is serving a suspension after his sending-off against Hoffenheim; Diogo Leite is a likely replacement. Stanley Nsoki and Livan Burcu are out with injuries, and Andrik Markgraf is doubtful. However, there’s positive news with centre-back Diogo Leite and midfielder András Schäfer potentially returning to the squad, possibly even the starting XI, after training. Forward Andrej Ilic has been a notable scorer for Union this season.
Tactical Preview
Eintracht Frankfurt, under Dino Toppmöller, is known for an exciting, attack-minded brand of football. They typically employ a 4-2-4 structure against opposition pressing and shift to a 3-2-5 against deeper defensive blocks, prioritizing classical positional play and quick transitions. Their strengths lie in counter-attacks, attacking down the wings, defending set pieces, and finishing chances. They often play with width and attack down the right. However, they can struggle with possession against compact opponents and sometimes lack aerial prowess.
Union Berlin, now managed by Steffen Baumgart, has historically been characterized by a robust, defensive-first approach. While Baumgart has reportedly been experimenting with tactics, their core style revolves around quick transitions, direct play, and exploiting the speed of their forwards. They excel at closing down spaces, recovering the ball quickly, and utilizing attacking set pieces. However, their finishing can be a weakness, along with defending against through balls and counter-attacks.
The midfield battle will be crucial, with Frankfurt looking to dictate play through players like Hugo Larsson and exploit Union’s potential defensive gaps. Union’s directness and ability to launch quick counters could test Frankfurt’s defense, especially if their central midfield can win second balls. Given Union’s recent struggles at the back, particularly conceding seven goals in their last two Bundesliga fixtures, Frankfurt’s attacking verve will be a significant challenge. Environmental factors like weather are unlikely to play a major role in a mid-September match at Deutsche Bank Park.
