Highlights
B. Dankert
Full time: Union 1-0 Pauli
© Imago Images
Full-time
89'
Substitution
89'
Substitution
88'
Chance for Pauli!
Afolayan cuts in from the right and lines up a shot with his left foot but he slices the ball high and wide of the target.
85'
As it stands...
... Union will be top of the Bundesliga table, at least until tomorrow!
83'
Substitution
83'
Substitution
81'
Bénes from range
The midfielder catches a bouncing ball sweetly from about 25 yards out. It's flying towards goal but is blocked by a defender, leaving Bénes holding his head. He knows that was on its way in.
79'
Acrobatic from Dźwigała!
The defender again gets on the end of a corner, this time with an overhead kick at the near post that goes just wide of the upright!
78'
Substitution
75'
Tale of the tape
Goal attempts
4off target
5on target
3off target
1on target
All still to play for
© Getty Images
70'
Good break from Union
The hosts get forward at breakneck speed on the counter through Hollerbach. He's outpaced his team-mates though so by the time he gets into the box he has to go it alone. The forward gets a shot away but the angle is tight and it's a routine save for Vasilj.
68'
Wide from Dźwigała
The defender rises highest to meet a corner and connects well with a header, but it bounces wide of the far post.
67'
Substitution
67'
Substitution
63'
Double change
Head coach Alexander Blessin shakes up his attack in a bid to get back into the game.
61'
Substitution
61'
Substitution
58'
Good omen
Union have never lost in the Bundesliga after holding a half-time lead.
56'
Favourites
1'
51.4 %
55'
78.8 %
50'
Rothe in space
The left-back gets forward well down the left and has two chances to cross in quick succession, but both are blocked by a defender's outstretched leg.
47'
Another chance for Union
A cross from the right finds Toussart in the box but his header goes well over.
46'
And we're off again
No changes from either side during the break.
Kick-off!
Half-time
Half-time: Union 1-0 Pauli
© Imago Images
41'
First change
Smith goes off with a knock and is replaced in defence by Dźwigała.
40'
Substitution
36'
Jordan almost makes it two!
A sloppy back-pass is intercepted by Jordan. He only has the goalkeeper to beat but it's blocked by Vasilj, before ricocheting off the Union forward again and out for a goal kick. That's a big let-off for Pauli there.
35'
Boom!
A Union corner from the left is only half cleared to the edge of the penalty area, where Hollerbach is lurking. He wallops a powerful first-time effort into the net, with the help of a deflection in the crowded box.
33'
Toussart again!
A much better effort from the Frenchman this time, smacking a stinging drive from a central position, 30 yards out, that Vasilj can only paw away.
32'
The stakes
Union drew 1-1 at Mainz last week, while Pauli slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against Heidenheim. As such, both will want to win here; not only for the three points but to start to build momentum and not get stuck near the bottom of the table.
26'
Toussart has a go
The hosts nearly capitalise on a Pauli mistake but Toussart doesn't make a clean connection with his shot, allowing Vasilj to gather comfortably.
22'
Irvine bossing it
Duels won
3
5
Benedict Hollerbach Jackson Irvine
18'
Wide from Eggestein
A first real sight of goal for the visitors following some neat one-touch passing down the left, culminating in Eggestein slicing a left-footed effort wide of the target. The flag goes up for offside so a goal wouldn't have counted, but it was encouraging stuff from Pauli nonetheless.
16'
Next chance for Jordan
A looped cross into the box finds Jordan but he can't get enough power on his header to trouble Vasilj.
Nothing in it
© Getty Images
10'
Just over from Vertessen!
A loose ball on the edge of the Pauli area sits up kindly for Vertessen, who smashes a first-time strike narrowly over the bar.
8'
Pauli on top
Possession (%)
3466
6'
Jordan involved
The big Union striker gets on the ball for the first time and has an effort at goal from near the edge of the box, but it lacks pace and power as the ball rolls wide.
4'
First glimpse
Union break through the Pauli press and get forward at pace down the left. Hollerbach wriggles into space and crosses into the middle but there are no takers to apply a finishing touch.
3'
Midfield battle
Both sets of players are keen to set out their stall and make a statement with their opposite numbers. As a result we've had plenty of full-blooded challenges but no goalmouth action as yet.
1'
Peeep peeep!
And we're off, with Pauli - kitted out all in white - getting the ball rolling.
Kick-off!
Electric atmosphere
We're moments away from kick-off and suffice to say that the crowd in Berlin are well up for it.
0:16
Watch: Union Berlin limbering up
More on those teams
Svensson makes three changes to the team that started the 1-1 draw with Mainz. Janik Haberer comes in for Christopher Trimmel on the right-hand side, Yorbe Vertessen is preferred to András Schäfer in attack, and Tom Rothe starts on the left in place of Robin Gosens, who isn't included. As for Pauli, Blessin sticks with the same XI that lost to Heidenheim.
Union starting line-up
Rønnow - Doekhi, Vogt, Leite - Haberer, Khedira (c), Tousart, Rothe - Hollerbach, Jordan, Vertessen
Union subs
Schwolow, Querfeld, Roussillon, Trimmel, Benes, Jeong, Kemlein, Schäfer, Skarke
Pauli starting line-up
Vasilj - Wahl, Smith, Mets - Treu, Wagner, Irvine (c), Metcalfe, Ritzka - Eggestein, Guilavogui
Pauli subs
Voll, Dzwigala, Nemeth, Saliakas, Boukhalfa, Afolayan, Albers, Banks, Saad
Blessin ahead of facing Union
© IMAGO/Philipp Szyza
Svensson ahead of facing Pauli
© IMAGO/Matthias Koch
A Bundesliga first
Union's meeting with Pauli is the 961st different match-up in Bundesliga history. The 962nd comes a day later, when promoted Holstein Kiel host Wolfsburg.
Previous meeting
The previous meeting between these two sides came in the DFB Cup in 2022 when Union beat St. Pauli 2-1 thanks to goals from Sheraldo Becker and Andreas Voglsammer. The last league meeting between the two came in the Bundesliga 2 in 2019, when St. Pauli won 3-2 at home with the goals coming from Sami Allagui and Alexander Meier.
Off the mark
Bo Svensson got his first point on the board as Union Berlin boss in Saturday's draw away to Mainz. He'll be relieved to have not left his former side empty handed and will now look to take all three points at home to newly promoted St. Pauli.
2:03
Watch: Mainz 1-1 Union Berlin highlights
Looking for lift-off
After defeat in their first game of the season, St. Pauli will travel to Union Berlin with the aim of getting their season up and running with three points. They will face a Union side that managed to pick up a point against Mainz on the opening weekend.
2:03