Union Berlin built on their inaugural campaign in the Bundesliga with another historic milestone for the club as they booked a place in Europe for the first time in two decades.
Despite a shaky performance in their first game, Berlin quickly hit stride as they lost just once more until January and found themselves in European qualification spots by the winter break. Teams were finding Berlin difficult to beat thanks to a solid backline with the club ending the campaign with the fourth best defensive record in the league.
Their home form was key to the success this season with Berlin not losing a match since the opening day defeat to Augsburg and ending the campaign with a flourish, winning four of the final five home games including a final day victory over RB Leipzig that secured them a place in Europe.
Max Kruse proved to be an excellent signing with the attacker ending the campaign as the top scorer with 11 goals and Berlin would likely have picked up more points had he been fit to play more than the 19 starts he did manage in the end. Christopher Trimmel though was their most consistent performer with the fullback proving to be defensively solid while also contributing nine assists.
There will be departures ahead of the next season with loan signings Pohjanpalo, Musa, Awoniyi, Karius and Schlotterbeck all leaving while Lenz and Hubner will also depart following the end of their contracts. Berlin will also need to bring in a more reliable understudy for Kruse while also ensuring the striker remains fit for majority of the campaign if they are to stand any chance of repeating their heroics next season
