Union Berlin will host last-placed VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday in their 14th match of the 2024-25 campaign at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
The home team lost 3-2 against Stuttgart on December 6 and are 12th in the top flight with 16 points, while their opponents are 18th with just two points after 13 games and were beaten 1-0 by Werder Bremen on December 7.
Match preview
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Die Eisernen will be bitterly disappointed by their defeat at the hands of Stuttgart given they had taken a 2-0 lead by the 48th minute but conceded three times between the 51st and 69th minutes.
Head coach Bo Svensson described the result as "hard to swallow" and also complained about the referee's performance, but perhaps focus should be placed on his team's defensive vulnerability.
Svensson's side have only kept one clean sheet in their past seven games, conceding 11 goals in their six most recent matches.
At the other end of the pitch, Union Berlin have only scored three times in their last six outings, failing to win any of those fixtures and losing on five occasions.
The hosts have drawn two and been defeated in their past three home games, though they did triumph in the prior three at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
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Opponents Bochum come into the clash having lost against Werder Bremen despite producing more shots, more attempts on target and more open play xG, but they were ultimately undone by poor defending during a corner in the 56th minute.
Manager Dieter Hecking said that while he believes his side are close to achieving positive results, his team looked somewhat confused last time out, saying: "The clarity was missing, perhaps also the last belief. We lost order, structure and, despite all our will, no longer made the right decisions."
The visitors are already nine points from 15th-placed St Pauli, who are the first team outside the relegation spots.
Bochum have not won any of their 14 matches this term, losing 12 and drawing just two, and are also the worst offensive and defensive club in the Bundesliga having netted 10 times and conceded 34 goals.
Hecking's team have lost all eight of their away games this season, conceding 13 and scoring three in their last four fixtures on the road.
Team News
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The hosts will be without striker Andrej Ilic until late December, so expect Woo-Yeong Jeong, Tim Skarke and Benedict Hollerbach to lead their attack.
Goalkeeper Yannic Stein has also been ruled out, and his absence makes Frederik Ronnow a likely candidate to appear in goal.
Union Berlin could field centre-backs Danilho Doekhi, Kevin Vogt and Diogo Leite behind a double pivot of Aljoscha Kemlein and Rani Khedira.
As for the visitors, they boast a largely healthy squad though forward Myron Boadu is not scheduled to make his comeback from a hip injury until January.
Koji Miyoshi and Gerrit Holtmann are likely to flank striker Philipp Hofmann in attack ahead of midfielders Matus Bero and Ibrahima Sissoko.
In defence, Bochum could start a back three of Jakov Medic, Ivan Ordets and Bernardo ahead of goalkeeper Patrick Drewes.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Skov, Kemlein, Khedira, Rothe; Jeong, Skarke, Hollerbach
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Drewes; Medic, Ordets, Bernardo; Passlack, Bero, Sissoko, Wittek; Miyoshi, Hofmann, Holtmann
We say: Union Berlin 2-0 VfL Bochum
It would not be surprising if Union Berlin managed to get back to winning ways at home considering their opponents' record away from home is dreadful.
While the hosts have not been prolific goalscorers this season, the visitors are the worst defensive team in the entire division and are not likely to keep a clean sheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
