Union Berlin vs. Wolfsburg preview: Both teams in need of a boost
Two sides struggling for wins will face off when Union Berlin welcome Wolfsburg to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday.
| Photo: 1. FC Union Berlin |
Union Berlin
Having won five, drawn three and lost 12 of their 20 league matches, Union are currently languishing in 15th position with three points separating them from the bottom three. After finishing last month with a narrow win over Darmstadt, die Eisernen have gone on to take just one point from their opening two games of February.
They fell to a 2-0 away defeat against RB Leipzig last weekend, before they played out a 1-1 draw in their midweek clash with Mainz. Robin Gosens cancelled out Jonathan Burkardt’s opener to send the two teams into the break on level terms. With Union unable to find a winner, they ultimately had to settle for a draw which extended their winless away run to 10 league matches (D2, L8).
Union will now return to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, where they have won each of their last three home league matches. They can also take confidence from the fact they have emerged victorious from their previous three competitive home meetings with Wolfsburg.
Team News
Josip Juranovic is ruled out with a muscle injury, while Christopher Trimmel, Kevin Vogt and Janik Haberer are all suspended.
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg have experienced a frustrating start to 2024, having drawn all four league matches following the winter break. Lovro Majer proved to be Wolfsburg’s hero last weekend, scoring a brace to help his side come from behind on two occasions to hold Hoffenheim to a 2-2 draw.
Having failed to win any of their last five league matches, Wolfsburg are currently sitting in 11th position in the Bundesliga table. Niko Kovac is under pressure to spark an upturn in fortunes, beginning with Saturday’s trip to the capital. The visitors are hoping to claim their first-ever away win over Union, having failed to do so in any of their previous four away meetings (W2, D2).
Wolfsburg will have to improve in the final third if they are to claim all three points after failing to score more than one goal in any of their previous five away league games since scoring twice in a 3-2 defeat to Augsburg in October.
Team News
Koen Casteels, Tiago Tomas, Lukas Nmecha and Aster Vranckx are all expected to miss out through injury, while Patrick Wimmer is a doubt.