Union Berlin vs Bochum preview: Will Union qualify for the Europa League?
Union Berlin will bid to maintain or better their current sixth position when they play host to Bochum on Saturday.
| Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Union Berlin
Union are already guaranteed to participate in European competition for the second season in a row, but they are still unsure as to whether they will participate in the Europa League or the Europa Conference League.
They currently sit in sixth position, however, they could still move up or down a place depending on their result and scores elsewhere.
One thing is for certain is that they will enter Saturday's contest in a rich vein of form after avoiding defeat in their last six league matches, with five of those six contests resulting in a Union victory.
Die Eisernen would have taken confidence from last weekend's resounding victory over Freiburg after they eased to a comfortable 4-1 win. Grischa Prömel got Urs Fischer's side up and running before Christopher Trimmel and Sheraldo Becker grabbed a goal apiece to give Union a three-goal cushion at the break. Lucas Höler pulled one back for Freiburg, but there was to be no comeback, with András Schäfer netting in the 90th minute to wrap up an impressive Union performance.
Fischer will now be hoping his side can hold onto a Europa League place as they bid to clinch a league double over Bochum.
Team News
Frederik Rønnow is sidelined with a groin problem, while Laurenz Dehl and Timo Baumgartl will also miss out.
Bochum
Bochum have enjoyed a successful season in the top flight after winning promotion from the 2.Bundesliga last term.
They enter Saturday's contest in 11th position, and they could still move above Gladbach before the curtain comes down on the 2021-22 campaign.
After picking up a memorable 4-3 victory over their neighbours Borussia Dortmund, Thomas Reis' side collected three more points last weekend.
Sebastian Polter gave his side the lead against Arminia Bielefeld, but Bochum were pegged back when Joakim Nilsson restored parity. However, Die Unabsteigbaren managed to clinch a narrow victory after George Bello put the ball into his own net in the 89th minute.
As a result of the 2-1 win over Bielefeld, Saturday's visitors have the chance to win three consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time since 2007.
Team News
Kostas Stafylidis is unavailable due to a knee problem, while illness will prevent Christopher Antwi-Adje from featuring.