Union Berlin and Mainz 05 will both begin their 2023-24 Bundesliga campaigns when they meet at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday.
The hosts qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history by finishing fourth last season, while Mainz ended up in ninth position.
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Indeed, after missing out on a Champions League qualification by one place and one point in the previous season, Urs Fischer's side continued their remarkable upward trajectory from recent years to reach the promised land last time out.
After making a flying start to the campaign with eight wins from their opening 12 league games, leading the Bundesliga table for a considerable period of time in the process, Die Eisernen always looked likely to claim a place in the top four despite one or two more difficult runs of form.
Union Berlin were only promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in their entire history under Fischer's management four years ago, making their recent achievements all the more remarkable.
The 57-year-old has recognised the need to increase their squad depth, though, with the likes of Robin Gosens, Diogo Leite, Lucas Tousart, Alex Kral, Alexander Schwolow, David Datro Fofana and Brenden Aaronson joining either on loan or permanently so far during the summer transfer window.
As expected, they got off to a winning start when facing fourth division side Astoria Walldorf in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal on Sunday, running out 4-0 winners. Having competed at that level of German football as recently as 2006, it was an excellent reminder of how far the club has come, but they must continue to push on across the coming campaign.
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Mainz, meanwhile, are set to enter their 15th consecutive season playing in the Bundesliga, which represents incredible stability for a club that was only promoted to Germany's top flight for the first time in 2004 under current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Having consistently flirted with relegation between 2016 and 2021, finishing between 12th and 15th in each of those five seasons, Die Nullfunfer have kicked on again since appointing Bo Svensson as their manager in January 2021. The 44-year-old made an instant impact to steer Mainz away from relegation danger, before guiding them to respectable eighth-placed and ninth-placed finishes in his two full seasons in charge.
Indeed, after dispatching SV Elversberg 1-0 in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday, the former Denmark defender's win rate at his current club now stands at an impressive 40% across 95 games in all competitions. While he would love to improve that record in the capital on Sunday, he would almost certainly regard avoiding defeat as a good result.
That is particularly true given the contrast in spending between the two clubs during the summer transfer window so far, with Svensson only able to sign Tom Krauss - who spent last season on loan at relegated Schalke 04 - on a permanent fee from RB Leipzig. More incomings will surely be needed if Mainz are to have a realistic chance of improving from mid-table to challenging for the European spots.
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Fischer will have to wait before being able to hand Tousart his debut following his move from Hertha Berlin, with the Frenchman unlikely to return from his hamstring injury until the end of the month, while Rani Khedira was withdrawn against Astoria Walldorf due to a calf issue.
Andras Schafer also remains a doubt as he continues to recover from having foot surgery, further decreasing the hosts' options in the middle of the park. Janik Haberer will expect to start alongside Aissa Laidouni, but whether Kral comes in as well will depend on the formation which Fischer opts for.
Indeed, the 57-year-old went with a more attacking 3-4-3 system last time out, but he may choose to sacrifice a forward for Kral. As such, Fofana - who has joined on loan from Chelsea for the season - could be preferred to Jordan Siebatcheu and Kevin Behrens in attack.
Mainz, meanwhile, will travel without Jonathan Burkardt, Silvan Widmer and Andreas Hanche-Olsen due to injury, with Svensson likely to select a similar starting XI to the one that defeated Elversberg in narrow circumstances last weekend.
Krauss and Sepp van den Berg, who has joined on loan from Liverpool for the season, both made their competitive debuts for the club from the bench during the cup victory, and it may be a similar story in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Knoche, Leite; Juranovic, Haberer, Kral, Laidouni, Roussillon; Becker, Fofana
Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Bell, Kohr, Fernandes; Da Costa, Barreiro, Stach, Caci; Lee, Onisiwo; Ajorque
We say: Union Berlin 2-1 Mainz 05
Having made some impressive signings during the summer transfer window, in contrast to Mainz who may start with no debutants, Union Berlin will sense an excellent opportunity to build momentum from the outset on Sunday.
Mainz have established themselves as a solid mid-table side under Svensson, but they may be lacking a little quality and belief to gain a result at a potentially rocking Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
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Top tip
Brett Curtis
