When Union Berlin plays Wolfsburg on Sunday, they will be hoping to maintain their position atop the Bundesliga standings heading into the international break. The weekend before last, the away team picked up their first victory under their new head coach, Niko Kovac.
Match Preview: Union Berlin vs Wolfsburg
Union Berlin overcame FC Koln 1-0 away last weekend to become league leaders for the first time in their history. Timo Hubers’ third-minute own goal provided the visitors the ideal start, enabling them to sit deep and try transitions for much of the encounter.
Koln never appeared likely to break down Union Berlin, and Luca Kilian’s second booking in the 81st minute destroyed their chances of a comeback. Fischer’s team struggles in Europe.
A second consecutive 1-0 loss in the Europa League, this time away to Braga on Thursday, has left them with an uphill task to qualify from Group D. They and Malmo are currently six points behind Braga and Union Saint-Gilloise.
If Die Eisermen’s Bundesliga form continues, Fischer and the supporters won’t worry about Europe. In their penultimate encounter before the international break, they want to keep their perfect record by defeating Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg finally got going under Kovac, who overcame his old team Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 last weekend. Maxence Lacroix scored just his second Bundesliga goal, a decisive victory around the hour mark. Despite having 37% possession, Wolfsburg kept their opponents from having a single shot on target. Their coach was happy after allowing four goals in the previous weekend’s loss to Koln.
The Wolves may need to be more proactive with the ball on Sunday against a Union Berlin side that likes to sit back, especially if they have a lead to protect, but they should have a stronger bite after recording their first victory of the season and moving out of the relegation zone.
Team News: Union Berlin vs Wolfsburg
Fischer only made two changes to his starting lineup for Thursday’s game in Braga, resting Christopher Trimmel and re-inserting first-choice goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow after he missed the win over Koln due to an injury.
With Trimmel back in the lineup and Julian Ryerson going to the opposite wing-back position, Morten Thorsby is likely to be available again as well and might replace Andras Schafer to strengthen the midfield area.
Injuries have prevented Danilho Doekhi and Kevin Mohwald from returning to action. Meanwhile, Max Kruse, 34, will not be making the trip with Wolfsburg after manager and former Croatian international Niko Kovac said he was unlikely to feature for the club again.
Old Union Berlin star Kruse, who had started in both of Wolfsburg’s previous losses, was left off the matchday squad for the trip to Frankfurt due to a lack of commitment, meaning he will not be able to face his former team this weekend.
Kovac is set to keep the same starting lineup that won his first game in charge despite the absences of Jerome Roussillon, Patrick Wimmer, and Jonas Wind due to injury.
- Starting Lineup for Union Berlin: Ronnow, Jaeckel, Knoche, Leite, Trimmel, Thorsby, Khedira, Haberer, Ryerson, Becker, Siebatcheu.
- Potential Wolfsburg Starting XI: Casteels, Baku, Lacroix, Van de Ven, Otavio, Svanberg, Franjic, Arnold, Waldschmidt, L. Nmecha, Brekalo
Our Prediction: Union Berlin 1-0 Wolfsburg
There is no question that the home club is in much superior form at the current time. However, we can anticipate a close encounter between the two teams since they both like to immediately counter-attack rather than patiently develop possession.
The team captained by Fischer is difficult to penetrate, and now that Sheraldo Becker and Jordan Siebatcheu are both playing at a high level, they have a more potent offensive attack.
