Union Berlin vs. Hoffenheim preview: Can the hosts maintain their unbeaten start?

Union Berlin

Bo Svensson has made a promising start to his tenure as Union boss, having overseen two wins and two draws in his first four competitive games in charge. Union kicked off the campaign with a 1-0 win over Greifswalder in the DFB-Pokal, before they played out a 1-1 draw in their league opener against Svensson’s former club Mainz. 

Union went on to claim their first league win of the season in their final outing before the international break. Benedict Hollerbach’s first-half effort proved enough to condemn St. Pauli to a 1-0 defeat at Stadion An der Alten Försterei. Svensson’s were unable to claim another victory on their travels last weekend, but they would have been pleased to take a point from their away meeting with RB Leipzig. Frederik Rønnow made a crucial penalty save from Loïs Openda to help Union hold Leipzig to a goalless draw at the Red Bull Arena.

Team News

The hosts are expected to be without the services of Yannic Stein and Josip Juranovic. 

Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim are two points behind Union after winning one and losing two of their opening three matches. They began their Bundesliga campaign with a 3-2 home win over Holstein Kiel, before falling to a 3-1 away defeat against against Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Unfortunately for Hoffenheim, they experienced another disappointing outing in their recent home meeting with Bayer Leverkusen. Mergim Berisha’s first-half effort proved to be a mere consolation in a heavy 4-1 loss at the PreZero Arena. Having shipped nine goals in three matches, Hoffenheim head into the weekend with the second-worst defensive record in the top flight. 

With Hoffenheim looking for a positive response, they may be able to take confidence from the fact they recorded a 2-0 victory in last season’s away clash with Union.

Team News

The visitors are unable to call upon Ozan Kabak, Finn Ole Becker, Grischa Prömel,  Adam Hlozek, Andrej Kramaric and Ihlas Bebou.