Will Union’s black streak continue in Wolfsburg?
Wolfsburg will be looking forward to the visit of Union Berlin: the three previous home games against the Spree-Kicker in the Bundesliga always ended with a success for the “Wolves”!
In addition, the timing is right from the home side’s point of view. The guests already had to play in the Europa League this week. The 3:3 against Royale Union SG in the driving snow at the home Alte Försterei on a pitch that was deep as a result took every ounce of energy, especially as the Capitals were three times chasing a deficit.
For the upcoming clash between Wolfsburg and Union Berlin, the forecast includes another home win.
Wolfsburg – Statistics & current form
The Lower Saxons still have a score to settle with the visitors: Just over a month ago, they were knocked out of the DFB Cup round of 16 by Berlin in a 2-1 away defeat, which Wolfsburg won for the only time so far in 2015.
Furthermore, coach Niko Kovac can only be satisfied with his team’s performance to a certain extent. After a furious start to the new year with two resounding victories against Freiburg and Hertha, the performance curve has dropped in recent weeks.
The 2009 German champions have only won one other match in their last six league games, and half of them have been lost (1-2-3). The hoped-for assault on the places for international business has thus failed to materialise for the time being.
Wolfsburg have room for improvement in home games
Last season’s twelfth-placed team also cannot rely on a home bonus: With four wins and draws each and three defeats, the home record is no more than average.
At least the Green-Whites’ defence is comparatively solid. With 31 goals conceded, the home side has the fifth-best record in this area. Especially in the second halves of the game, Kovac’s defence is reliable.
This can be seen from the fact that they conceded only 35 percent of their goals in these periods. This proportion is topped league-wide by the upcoming opponents alone with 33 percent! In view of this, the prediction and odds on less than two goals after the break in the clash between Wolfsburg and Union Berlin are also worth considering.
Gerhardt is on the rise
In the home side’s attack, Yannick Gerhardt has been stable of late. In the recent 2:2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, he scored a goal and set up the team’s other goal. With eight goals, he and Patrick Wimmer now have the most in Wolfsburg.
His rise in form can be seen in the fact that five of those assists came in 2023! However, Maximilian Arnold will not be able to start in midfield due to a card suspension. This ends a streak of no less than 62 games in a row for the VfL veteran, in each of which he featured!
Last matches played by Wolfsburg:
Bundesliga
05/03/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 2 – 2 Eintracht Frankfurt
25/02/2023 – 1. FC Köln 0 – 2 VfL Wolfsburg
18/02/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 0 – 3 RB Leipzig
11/02/2023 – Schalke 04 0 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg
05/02/2023 – VfL Wolfsburg 2 – 4 Bayern Munich
Union Berlin – Statistics & current form
The team from the Spree is beginning to feel the multiple burden of league, cup and international stage with the Europa League. Against Royale Union SG last Thursday evening, the visitors only managed a 3-3 draw with a lot of effort and things have not been going well in the Bundesliga lately either.
Coach Urs Fischer’s team has not won in three rounds. The reason for this poor result is the lack of efficiency in attack. The visitors have not only been waiting for their next win for three rounds, but also for their next goal!
Only a bread-and-butter art by Becker
A symbol of the current weakness is Sheraldo Becker. The striker delivered a very strong first half, but he has not scored since November of last year. In light of this, the betting and odds on a home win to nil are also recommended for the clash between Wolfsburg and Union Berlin.
Although the Berliners have scored three times in the Europa League recently, this was mainly due to their Belgian opponents’ chronically fragile defence. The additional prediction is also supported by the statistics. In Union’s three visits to Wolfsburg so far, the visitors have always failed to score and lost by nil!
Berliners are stand-up guys
On the other hand, the recent 3:3 against the Belgian runners-up once again proved the Köpenicker’s great morale. Three times they came back from a deficit in the match and even in league play the Fischer squad often doesn’t let a deficit unsettle them.
Four of the nine games in which they conceded the first goal of a match were subsequently won by Union (4-0-5). This corresponds to a percentage of 44 per cent – the highest in the Bundesliga!
Last matches played by Union Berlin:
Europa League Final Stage
10/03/2023 – Union Berlin 3 – 3 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Bundesliga
04/03/2023 – Union Berlin 0 – 0 1. FC Köln
26/02/2023 – Bayern Munich 3 – 0 Union Berlin
Europa League Final Stage
24/02/2023 – Union Berlin 3 – 1 Ajax Amsterdam
Bundesliga
19/02/2023 – Union Berlin 0 – 0 Schalke 04
Wolfsburg – Union Berlin Direct comparison / H2H-Balance
The last direct encounter took place in the DFB Cup at the end of January this year and ended, as mentioned, with a 2:1 home victory for the “Eisernen”. Berlin also won the first-leg clash 2-0, but they have yet to win or score on away goals in three attempts in Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg – Union Berlin Tip
In the clash between Wolfsburg and Union Berlin, the betting and odds on a win for the hosts seem promising. The visitors will be physically less fresh, as they have an energy-sapping match in the Europa League from this week in their bones.
The triple burden has been evident in the Berlin squad of late anyway, as Union have not scored in three league games and the three goals conceded in their last match against the St. Gilles side did not reflect well on their defence, which has been largely reliable so far.
The prediction is supported on top by a slight rise in form of the home side, who recently won in Cologne and drew at home against Frankfurt. In addition, the recent dry spell with four league games without a win was also due to an at least partly very difficult schedule with duels against the top teams Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
On paper, Union is also a top team in third place in the table, but the visitors do not currently reflect this ranking on the pitch. Last but not least, the Lower Saxons still have the recent cup defeat at the Wuhlheide in mind, which is why they will not lack motivation from this point of view either.
