FC St. Pauli

Unbeaten run

Union Berlin are the form team in 2017. Five wins in their last six games have seen the Köpenick outfit deservedly climb to second place in the table and mount a serious promotion challenge. Jens Keller's side beat Kickers Würzburg 2-0 last time out to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches, with a scoreless draw against Dynamo Dresden in the second game after the winter break the only hiccup. Their last defeat, 3-0 at FC Heidenheim, came in week 16.

Number one

The victory over 1860 Munich on matchday 22 came at a cost, as Union lost their first-choice goalkeeper Jakob Busk to injury. The 23-year-old Dane pulled a muscle in this left thigh and is likely to be sidelined for another two weeks. An ever-present until then with seven clean sheets to his name, Busk was replaced by Daniel Mesenhöler, 21, who made his first appearance this season against Borussia Dortmund in the second round of the DFB Cup.

Linchpins

The mainstays of Jens Keller's team are midfielder Damir Kreilach and right-back Steven Skrzybski, who have started every league game so far. Centre-back and defensive organiser Toni Leistner has totted up 21 appearances, scoring one goal, and his record of almost 66 per cent of challenges won is one of the best in the league. Little surprise, then, that Leistner has already been named seven times in the kicker sportmagazin team of the day. His qualities will be needed even more than usual against the Boys in Brown, as fellow centre-back Roberto Puncec was sent off for two yellow card offences against Würzburg and will miss the game at the Millerntor.  

Prolific

With eleven different goalscorers already this season, Union pose an attacking threat all over the pitch. Wide man Steven Skrzybski leads the way on eight goals, with Collin Quaner second on seven, all of them in the first half of the campaign. Ewald Lienen no longer needs to worry about the latter, however, as Quaner joined Championship side Huddersfield Town during the winter break. His replacement was found in the same division. Sebastian Polter, who ran out for Union in the 2014/15 season, arrived from Queens Park Rangers and has already contributed three goals in six appearances.

Late starters

Union's attacking department is their main strength. Jens Keller's men have launched 101 shots on the opposition goal, of which 37 found the net. The Berliners have failed to score in just five games. That corresponds to a success rate of 18 per cent. League leaders VfB Stuttgart are the only team more effective in front of goal, with 21.8 per cent. The Boys in Brown, in comparison, are on 12.1 per cent. They will need to be especially careful in the second half, as Union have scored 23 times after the interval. If the visitors have a weakness then it is their left-hand side, from where they have hit just 54 crosses – the lowest in the league.

Balanced head-to-head record

Friday evening's contest is the 21^st meeting between the two sides. The previous 20 encounters have produced 59 goals for an average of almost three a game. With seven wins each and six draws, the head-to-head record is perfectly balanced. In the reverse fixture, Union underlined their impressive home form with a 2-0 victory.

Photo: Witters