Do the Eisernen defend their top spot in the table?
For clubs like SC Freiburg or Union Berlin, it may only be a snapshot, but it’s a particularly nice one. The Köpenicker are the 34th club in Bundesliga history to occupy the place in the sun after a full matchday. On Sunday, it’s all about defending that position when VfL Wolfsburg visit the Alte Försterei on matchday seven.
By the way, the last team that managed to defend first place in the top flight and was not FC Bayern was VfL Wolfsburg on matchdays two to four in pre-season. If the Eisern manage to stay in front now, this top position beckons for several weeks, because after this matchday there will first be an international break. Urs Fischer’s team could not have asked for more incentive.
The team from Köpenick currently has 14 points from six games and is one point ahead of Freiburg and two points ahead of Bayern. That means they are still unbeaten, which means we will be holding back on betting on an away win in the match between Union Berlin and Wolfsburg, especially as the Wolves are still in the bottom of the table.
Niko Kovac’s team are five points off the relegation places. Perhaps last weekend’s win in Frankfurt was a liberating blow. But now the Lower Saxons should follow up, otherwise a relegation place threatens during the international break.
Union Berlin – Statistics & current form
There are many reasons why Union Berlin are not currently top of the Bundesliga table by chance. Sheraldo Becker, for example, has made a furious start to the season and leads the scorers’ list in the top flight with five goals and two assists. In addition, there is a very stable defence that has only conceded four goals, making it the best in the Bundesliga.
Incredible series in the Bundesliga
Furthermore, the Eisernen have not lost in the Bundesliga since 19 March. This means that Urs Fischer’s team has been unbeaten for 13 league games. That is currently by far the longest streak in the first division. Therefore, we can probably disregard the odds on an away win for the Lower Saxons in the match between Union Berlin and Wolfsburg.
On top of that, the Köpenicker are the team with the most runs. This diligence is currently being rewarded week after week. However, this only applies to the Bundesliga and not to the European Cup. In the Europa League, the Berliners suffered their second defeat in the second group match in Braga last week. They were the better team for long stretches, but were beaten 1-0 after a slip-up.
After the match in Portugal, Urs Fischer could well call up fresh players for the starting eleven. The coach should have plenty of options, as all players are currently available. However, Danilho Doekhi and Morten Thorsby are both injured. Should both not be able to play, Paul Jaeckel and Genki Haraguchi would probably be the first alternatives.
Predicted line-up of Union Berlin:
Rönnow – Doekhi, Knoche, Diogo Leite – Trimmel, Khedira, Ryerson – Thorsby, Haberer – Siebatcheu, Becker – Coach: Fischer
Last matches played by Union Berlin:
Bundesliga
18/09/2022 – Union Berlin 2 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg
Europa League Grp. D
16/09/2022 – Braga 1 – 0 Union Berlin
Bundesliga
11/09/2022 – 1. FC Köln 0 – 1 Union Berlin
Europa League Grp. D
08/09/2022 – Union Berlin 0 – 1 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Bundesliga
03/09/2022 – Union Berlin 1 – 1 Bayern Munich
Wolfsburg – Statistics & current form
There was only one topic in Wolfsburg this week. The suspension of Max Kruse made very high waves. His commitment to the team did not meet the expectations of coach Niko Kovac and the VfL bosses. The former international was thus denied a return to the Alte Försterei. Max Kruse may not play another game for the Wolves
Still no Bundesliga win against Union
The Wolves could do with a player like Max Kruse in top form. Of the six Bundesliga games this season, VfL have only won one, but this one was without the suspended attacker. Whether this was the right signal will perhaps be seen at the Alte Försterei. In general, however, it does not sound like a forecast for an away win in the duel between Union Berlin and Wolfsburg.
The Wolves have never won away from home against two of the current Bundesliga teams. One is Bayern and the other is Union Berlin. Last week’s 1-0 win in Frankfurt should have given Niko Kovac’s team self-confidence. After all, they took home the three points not undeservedly after Maxence Lacroix’s goal.
Mattias Svanberg only trained individually during the week. If he is not fit by Sunday, Joshua Guilavogui or Jakub Kaminski could come into the team. Patrick Wimmer should return to the squad after overcoming a head injury. Apart from Max Kruse, who has been sorted out, only the injured Jonas Wind may be missing.
Predicted Wolfsburg line-up:
Casteels – Baku, Lacroix, van der Ven, Paulo Otavio – Arnold, Franjic, Svanberg, Brekalo – L. Nmecha, Waldschmidt – Coach: Kovac
Last matches played by Wolfsburg:
Bundesliga
18/09/2022 – Union Berlin 2 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg
10/09/2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 1 VfL Wolfsburg
03/09/2022 – VfL Wolfsburg 2 – 4 1. FC Köln
27/08/2022 – RB Leipzig 2 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg
20/08/2022 – VfL Wolfsburg 0 – 0 Schalke 04
Union Berlin – Wolfsburg Direct comparison / H2H balance
Nine times the paths of Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg have crossed so far. Although the Wolves have never won at the Alte Försterei in the Bundesliga, they are clearly ahead in the direct comparison. After victories, the score is 6:1 for the Lower Saxons. Two games ended in a draw. The first duels took place immediately after reunification in the promotion round to the second Bundesliga. In the meantime, the two teams have been playing together in the top flight.
Last season, the two direct duels each resulted in a home victory. The Eisernen first won 2-0 at home after goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Sheraldo Becker, while the Wolves secured a 1-0 victory in the return match after Taiwo Awoniyi scored an own goal. A little fun fact on the side: Max Kruse was in the starting eleven of the winning team in both matches.
Union Berlin – Wolfsburg Tip
Actually, it’s a shame that Max Kruse is denied this stage at the Alte Försterei. It would be interesting to see how the crowd in Berlin would have reacted to his return. As it is, it will be a somewhat more normal Bundesliga match in which Union Berlin are the favourites. The Eisernen have not lost any of their last 13 league games and want to continue this streak, preferably with a win, to remain top of the table.
The Wolves, on the other hand, have picked up just one win from their first six games and are still waiting for their first away win in Köpenick. After the success in Frankfurt, the Lower Saxons are hoping to score in the capital as well.
But we expect it to be a contested game, but one in which there won’t be many scoring chances. We think that the Eisern might have a slight strength problem after two English weeks. Moreover, the Lower Saxons are not exactly known for their penetrating power. That’s why we have decided to play the betting odds on less than 2.5 goals between Union Berlin and Wolfsburg.
