In each side's fourth league of the Bundesliga season, Union Berlin are set to host Hoffenheim on Saturday at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
The hosts are ninth with five points from their first three fixtures of the league season and drew 0-0 with RB Leipzig on September 14, while the visitors are fifth last in 14th place with three points after three matchweeks.
Match preview
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Union Berlin were fortunate to have escaped from Red Bull Arena with a point given Leipzig missed a penalty in the 74th minute, though they did stifle their opponents in open play.
In their second game of their league campaign, the hosts beat newly-promoted St Pauli and had just 40% possession, a common theme of so far this term.
Schlosserjungs have averaged 39.3% possession in their three top-flight fixtures, the second lowest of any of the 18 teams in the division.
Manager Bo Svensson, who is embarking on his first season in charge of the club, should be able to make a return to the sidelines after missing his side's draw against Leipzig due to an infection.
Svensson's team have won twice and drawn twice in their four competitive matches this season, scoring just three times and conceding only on two occasions.
Union Berlin have won their last two home games, though prior to these victories they lost the previous three matches at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
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The visitors lost 4-1 last time out on September 14 against champions Bayer Leverkusen and in that defeat they had 40% possession, conceded five big chances and faced 14 shots from inside the penalty area.
Hoffenheim have conceded 11 times in their four competitive matches in 2024-25 and only progressed past fourth-tier side Wurzburger Kickers in the first round of the DFB Pokal on August 16 thanks to their win in a penalty shootout.
If there was one positive to take from his side's opening four games of the season, it is that Andrej Kramaric has started the campaign brilliantly, already scoring four goals and registering one assist in the Bundesliga.
In the aftermath of their loss against Bayer Leverkusen, boss Pellegrino Matarazzo lamented that his team conceded goals "too easily" despite having "several good spells".
Matarazzo's side come into the clash having kept just two clean sheets in their last 44 Bundesliga games while losing nine of their 12 league matches on the road.
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Team News
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Union Berlin will be unable to call upon Josip Juranovic, Yannic Stein and Kevin Volland.
Centre-back Diogo Leite could be joined by Kevin Vogt and Danilho Doekhi in central defence.
As for Hoffenheim, they will have to cope without talisman Andrej Kramaric, who is likely to be out until early October.
Elsewhere, Ihlas Bebou, as well as midfielders Finn Ole Becker, David Jurasek and Marco John, Ozan Kabak and Grischa Promel are also likely to miss out.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Haberer, Khedira, Schafer, Benes, Rothe; Skarke, Hollerbach
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Drexler, Stach, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Geiger, Prass, Tohumcu; Berisha, Bulter
We say: Union Berlin 2-0 Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim's defensive record in the league has been concerning for some time, and it would be surprising if they managed to keep a clean sheet on Saturday.
Additionally, Union Berlin have proven this season they are capable of winning without dominating possession, and they could prove dangerous during counter-attacks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
