The 2018–19 1. FC Union Berlin season is the 53rd season in the football club's history and 9th consecutive season in the second division of German football, the 2. Bundesliga and 13th overall. In addition to the domestic league, 1. FC Union Berlin also are participating in this season's edition of the domestic cup, the DFB-Pokal. This is the 53rd season for 1. FC Union Berlin in the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, located in Köpenick, Berlin, Germany. The season covers a period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
Season review
Pre-season
After a disappointing season in which Union was only able to avoid relegation on the 33rd matchday, the team started into the season with a brand new look. Starting at the front with a new manager Urs Fischer, who has won numerous titles in the Swiss Super League with FC Basel; this was only the beginning of a new Union squad that saw drastic changes from the season before. Union would start the new campaign without fan favorite Steven Skrzybski but added key players such as Rafal Gikiewicz and Sebastian Andersson, both of whom would go on to feature in every fixture.
2. Bundesliga first half (matchday 1–17) Union Berlin started their 13th ever 2. Bundesliga season with a 1–0 win at home to start the campaign, courtesy of a late free kick goal by former captain Felix Kroos. A 1–1 draw the next week against 1. FC Köln in Cologne, was already a reason for optimism for the Köpenick based club, as Köln were predicted by many to promote back into the Bundesliga. This draw would be followed up with many similar score lines, as Union managed a staggering 10 draws in just the first half of the season, along with 7 wins. Two key fixtures were a matchday nine 1–1 draw against 1. FC Heidenheim where goalkeeper Gikiewicz saved Union with a headed goal from a corner kick in the 94th minute. The second a 2–2 away draw against Hamburger SV, who after relegating for the first time in their history the season before, were favorites to go back up. During that first half of the season, Union was also drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the 2nd round of the DFB Pokal after 90 minutes, coming close to beating the Bundesliga club and creating a massive upset in Dortmund. Only to be stymied by a Marco Reus penalty kick goal in the final moments of the game. This impressive early-season run had Die Eisernen remaining undefeated in their first 17 games in 3rd place, within striking distance of promotion heading into the winter break to the surprise of many.
2. Bundesliga second half (matchday 18–34) In the first matchday of the 2nd half of the season, Union fans were met with a worrying result, losing the first game back in a 0–3 collapse to midtable Erzgebirge Aue. However, things quickly got back up on track with a win against eventual champions Köln in Berlin 2–0. Union maintained their incredible results while playing at home the rest of the campaign, only losing one game out of their 17 at home all season against SC Paderborn, who had emerged as a promotion candidate as well. On matchday 31 a 2–0 win against Hamburger SV in the near-impenetrable fortress that was the Stadion An der Alten Försterei launched Die Eisernen back into the top three, good enough for a playoff against the 16th place Bundesliga team for a chance at promotion. The possibility to promote automatically was there on the last matchday of the season, a win against VfL Bochum was all they needed to leapfrog into 2nd. Union fought their way back from 0–2 to a 2–2, and nearly managed the victory at the last gasp. With the draw, Union finished with 57 points, and only missed 2nd place on goal differential. However, their amazing home form and ability to draw on the road was enough, as they secured a place in the Bundesliga Relegation playoffs, facing off in a two-leg series against VfB Stuttgart.