Union Berlin vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Can Union continue their winning run?
Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin will attempt to claim a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions when they face a Borussia Dortmund side who are looking to avoid a third straight away defeat in the league.
| Urs Fischer. |
Union Berlin
Union head into Sunday's contest as the Bundesliga leaders with two points separating them from second-place Freiburg. The hosts have collected 20 points from their nine games after losing only one league match this season.
Since losing to Eintracht Frankfurt, Urs Fischer's side have won their last three games by a 1-0 scoreline. Malmo were beaten twice in the Europa League, while they edged out Stuttgart last weekend to claim their sixth win of the Bundesliga season.
Although a home meeting with Dortmund will offer an insight as to whether Union can genuinely offer a surprising title challenge, Union's form at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei suggests they have the quality and belief to claim a victory on Sunday. Three of their four home league games this season have ended with a win, and they have also held Bayern to a 1-1 home draw in that period.
Union's main strength this season has been their resolute defence, which has kept four clean sheets in nine league encounters, while they are yet to concede more than one goal in a home match this term. The team with the best defensive record in the Bundesliga also offers a threat in the final third after scoring at least two goals in three of their four home league games.
Team News
Kevin Möhwald is yet to feature this season, and the midfielder is the only injury concern for Sunday's contest.
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund may have won only one of their last four league games, but their 2-2 draw against rivals Bayer Munich last weekend certainly felt like a victory. Edin Terzic's side looked to be heading for defeat after Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sané gave Bayern a two-goal lead. Youssoufa Moukoko halved the deficit with under 20 minutes remaining before Anthony Modeste scored in the 95th minute to complete a memorable comeback
A 1-1 draw followed in midweek when Dortmund faced Sevilla in the Champions League, but they will now attempt to return to winning ways on Sunday.
Despite enjoying the result against Bayern, Die Schwarzgelben are sat in seventh place in the Bundesliga with four points separating them from their opponents. The visitors will be looking to close that gap, but two consecutive away league defeats suggest that claiming all three points on Sunday may prove difficult.
If they are to collect a third away win of the Bundesliga season, Dortmund will need to improve defensively after conceding three goals in their away defeats to RB Leipzig and FC Köln.
Team News
Anthony Modeste and Marius Wolf have not travelled with the squad, and as a result, they will not feature against Union. The visitors also without the services of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Mahmoud Dahoud, Sébastien Haller and Mateu Morey.
However, Raphaël Guerreiro, Thomas Meunier and Marco Reus have all made the trip to Berlin, and they could all be involved despite previously being rated doubtful for Sunday's contest.