After last season’s impressive fifth-placed Bundesliga finish, Union Berlin had a lot to live up to this campaign but they’re making a good fist of replicating that feat as they find themselves in that very position ahead of their return to league action against Hoffenheim. Things didn’t end well before the World Cup break though, and with no wins from their last three Bundesliga games (D1, L2) including an eye-watering 11 goals conceded, the team will want to reignite their push for a European place and their bid to finish higher than last season.
Where there’s a home game there’s hope for Union, who are unbeaten across their last 13 Bundesliga home matches (W9, D4). A clash against Hoffenheim comes with added complications though, as Union have never kept a H2H clean sheet, though the fact Urs Fischer’s side scored in all but one of their home league games last year potentially makes for an interesting affair.
Hoffenheim return to Bundesliga action just four points above the bottom three, a concerning margin for a side who have won just one of their last nine league games (D3, L5). Strangely though, a game on their travels may suit Hoffenheim considering they’ve tasted defeat in just one of their last four away league games (W1, D2), but it remains to be seen how they will cope with the loss of Georginio Rutter.
It took a rumoured £36 million for Leeds United to prize Rutter away from Hoffenheim, but they’ve filled the void he left behind by adding Kasper Dolberg to the ranks. Hoffenheim boss André Breitenreiter will hope Dolberg can hit the ground running, if not just to secure the three points, but also so his side can improve on their joint-second fewest Bundesliga away goals scored this season (ten).
Players to watch: A fan of getting his side off to a strong start, Union’s Sheraldo Becker has opened the scoring on three of his last four scoring appearances. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner has scored in his last two league appearances but has never scored in three straight Bundesliga games before.
Hot stat: Union have scored the most headed goals this Bundesliga season (eight).
