FC UNION BERLIN NEWS

Morten Thorsby - Set for surgery Thorsby did not travel to the January training camp due to a serious injury, Union Berlin announced Tuesday.

Impact Thorsby will be out for an uncertain amount of time with a surgery that oddly wasn't specified. The only information given was that it was a serious issue requiring surgery. Thorsby played a minimal role before the World Cup break and likely won't return to any sort of major playing time in the second half of the season.

JANUARY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Mohwald - Fit, out of contention Mohwald is fit but isn't in contention to play under manager Urs Fischer.

Impact Mohwald isn't expected to be part of the first team with Union Berlin, and is reportedly on the market for a January sale. Mohwald returned from a thigh injury in October but saw little playing time since returning.

DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rani Khedira - Eligible for return Khedira served a one-match suspension against Freiburg and is set to return for a Jan. 21 clash with Hoffenheim.

Impact Khedira served a one-match ban against Freiburg for yellow card accumulation. The midfielder will return for the second half of the Bundesliga, where he will remain a key part of the starting XI.

DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Bobby Wood signs with New England Revolution

Former U.S. national team forward Bobby Wood agreed to a one-year contract with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution

DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Milos Pantovic - No starts in first half Pantovic made eight appearances (no starts), scoring once during the first half of the Bundesliga.

Impact Pantovic saw eight appearances, but hasn't had the major role he had with Bochum during the 2021/22 campaign. The good news for the midfielder is he remains in the Bundesliga, the bad news is he seems nowhere near earning a starting role. Pantovic's remains off fantasy radar's while he's on the bench.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Morten Thorsby - Minor role with new club Thorsby has made just four starts in the Bundesliga before the Winter break.

Impact Thorsby joined Union Berlin from Sampdoria, where he was a nailed-on starter, and has struggled for any sort of playing time. It's possible that Thorsby see's a consistent increase in playing time during the second half of the Bundesliga, where he should have the chance to gel more with his new team.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Jaeckel - Consistent minutes in first half Jaeckel made 14 appearances (11 starts), scoring once during the first half of the Bundesliga.

Impact Jaeckel has seen consistent playing time when healthy, though injuries have consistently limited him. When fully fit the center-back projects as a consistent starter in the Union Berlin back-three, a unit that has been one of the most impressive in Germany.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Danilho Doekhi - Inconsistent starts Doekhi has started 10 matches in all competitions during the first half of the season.

Impact Doekhi has found himself as the fourth choice center-back for Union Berlin, who haven't really rotated. The positive of this is that with injuries Doekhi has been a stable option for 90 minutes of playing time, but when on the bench he's gone consistently unused. Doekhi will be competing with Paul Jaeckel for a more consistent role in the defense in the second half.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Genki Haraguchi - Role decreasing Haraguchi made eight appearances (four starts) with no goal contributions in the first half of the Bundesliga.

Impact Haraguchi was a star in his opening campaign with Union Berlin, scoring twice and adding six assists. He's struggled to show any of the flashes from that debut season, and is looking much more like the underwhelming fantasy option he was with Hannover.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Ryerson - Twelve starts Ryerson made 13 appearances (12 starts) in the first half of the Bundesliga, as well as six appearances in the Europa League.

Impact Ryerson played a total for 1,419 minutes in the 2021/22 campaign and is already on pace to blow past that in the first half of the Bundesliga. The midfielder has become a consistent starter, though he's shown less offensive upside than the 2021/22 campaign. Ryerson will remain a consistent option at wing-back in the second half of the Bundesliga.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Janik Haberer - Finds goal-scoring touch Haberer scored three times and assisted once during 13 appearances in the first half of the Bundesliga.

Impact Haberer made the move to Union Berlin from Freiburg in search of more playing time and he's immediately become a key part of the starting XI. The midfielder has contributed four goals and has already matches his career-best three goals scored. Haberer will continue to be a major part of the starting XI in the second half of the Bundesliga.

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Frederik Ronnow - Called up for World Cup Ronnow (strain) made Denmark's roster for the World Cup, it was announced Sunday.

Impact Ronnow figures to back up Kasper Schmeichel in goal, so a hamstring injury picked up earlier in November is unlikely to be a major inhibitor on his involvement. Before the injury, Ronnow conceded just 11 goals in 17 matches between the league and UEL, a record that kept his team in contention for the top of the table until losing two of their last three games by conceding 11 goals with Lennart Grill in net.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Lennart Grill - Concedes four in loss Grill conceded four goals (two penalties) and made one save during Sunday's 4-1 loss to Frieburg.

Impact Grill was promoted to the starting spot after Frederik Ronnow suffered a hamstring injury and he went on to concede 11 goals in three league starts. While the woes of Union are not fully to blame on Grill, his form hasn't been enough to save the club from their free fall before the World Cup break. When Ronnow returns, Grill should move back to the bench.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Robin Knoche - Misses penalty in loss Knoche missed a penalty and made four clearances during Sunday's 4-1 loss to Freiburg.

Impact Knoche had a chance to save his team after conceding twice in the first nine minutes but instead put his attempt wide of the goal. With three goals, one assist and nine clean sheets in 20 appearances to open the season, Knoche has done well enough to earn further attention if he and his teammates can reverse the negative mood of conceding 11 goals in the last three matches.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sheraldo Becker - Plays first half in loss Becker played for the first half of Sunday's 4-1 loss to Freiburg.

Impact Becker played exceptionally well to open the season with seven goals and three assists in the first 11 matches but has since scored once and logged one assist in the final 10 games. If Becker and his teammates are going to survive a busy 2023 as their Europa League participation continues, goals are a desperate need to reverse the mood following some rough defeats Sunday and Nov. 6 in a 5-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sven Michel - Scores penalty as substitute Michel scored one penalty goal from one shot in 30 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 4-1 loss to Freiburg

Impact Michel has scored twice in the last four matches between the league and UEL, growing in importance for the squad in spite of two bad losses and a draw over the final three games against Bayer Leverkusen, Augsburg and Freiburg. If Jordan Pefok can't get back on track in 2023, Michel and Kevin Behrens should see their minutes increase.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Grifo's hat trick fires Freiburg to 2nd as Bundesliga pauses

The last Bundesliga game before a long World Cup break brought plenty of drama as Vincenzo Grifo scored a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes to fire Freiburg to a 4-1 win over Uni...

NOVEMBER 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diogo Leite - Sent off against Freiburg Leite was sent off in the 20th minute of Sunday's match against Freiburg.

Impact Leite brought down Ritsu Doan in the box and the referee didn't waste much time in bringing out the red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity. He will have to be careful with how long his suspension might be, as he'll at least miss the Jan. 21 match against Hoffenheim.

NOVEMBER 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MATCHDAY: Final games in European leagues before World Cup

The Premier League will pause for the World Cup after Brighton's home match against Aston Villa followed by Manchester United's trip to Fulham

NOVEMBER 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rani Khedira - Suspended against Frieburg Khedira will be suspended for Sunday's match at Freiburg after picking up his fifth yellow card in Tuesday's draw with Augsburg.

Impact Khedira has started in all 20 league and UEL matches so his absence is a notable one, even though his value isn't so great as a defensively-minded midfielder. Kevin Behrens could fit into the midfield, though Genki Haraguchi has made three starts in the Bundesliga and is likely up next on the depth chart in midfield.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Leverkusen wins Rhine derby to ease pressure on Xabi Alonso

Moussa Diaby scored again as Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat Cologne 2-1 in their Rhine derby

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paul Seguin - Logs helper on opener Seguin assisted once to go with one shot (zero on target), two crosses (two accurate) and three chances created in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with FC Augsburg.

Impact Seguin was in the starting lineup after appearing as a substitute during his squad's last time out. He delivered a nice through ball to Sheraldo Becker during the seventh minute to help open the scoring in this contest, and the assist represents his second of the league season.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Niko Giesselmann - Assists on 11 crosses in draw Giesselmann logged one assist on 11 crosses (five accurate), four corners and three shots (one on target) during Wednesday's 2-2 draw with FC Augsburg.

Impact Giesselmann led all players on the pitch with his 11 crosses sent in, and he converted successfully on almost half of those attempts. His efforts were rewarded during the 22nd minute when he located Kevin Behrens with a cross to help briefly pull his squad in front 2-1. On the league season, the winger is averaging almost five crosses per match and should maintain a rather fantasy-friendly role as such.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Lennart Grill - No saves at Union Berlin Grill made no saves (two goals conceded) during Wednesday's 2-2 draw with FC Augsburg.

Impact As the score line would suggest, Grill had an uneventful outing in the sense that he was unable to stop either of the attempts that came his direction Wednesday. Fortunately for the keeper, his outfielders were able to rally together and escape Berlin with one point.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Behrens - Scores in draw Behrens scored one goal on four shots (two on target) and created two chances during Wednesday's 2-2 draw with FC Augsburg.

Impact Behrens was in the starting XI after appearing in relief during his last time out. He certainly made the most of the opportunity, heading home a Niko Giesselmann cross during the 22nd minute to briefly give his Union Berlin side the 2-1 lead. He was replaced by Jordan Pefok with six minutes remaining before stoppage time.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE