Hoffenheim are playing brilliantly in the Bundesliga this season. The Blues are third in the Bundesliga table after 18 matchdays and could qualify for the Champions League group stage for 2022-23.
Union Berlin are aiming to put a stop to Hoffenheim’s dream of making next season’s Champions League. The Irons will host Hoffenheim on Saturday in a top-seven clash.
Urs Fischers’ team is aiming to qualify for Europe for a second straight season after playing in this campaign’s Europa Conference League. Union Berlin are just three points off of Hoffenheim in the league table. A win could send Union Berlin into the Champions League qualification places.
Earlier this season, Union Berlin and Hoffenheim drew 2-2. The Irons scored through Niko Giesselmann in the 10th minute but Hoffenheim fought back with two goals from Kevin Akpoguma and Jacob Brun Larsen before halftime.
Union Berlin got an equaliser from Taiwo Awoniyi just after halftime. The Irons also had Marvin Friedrich sent off in the 90th minute. The draw was the second straight stalemate between these teams.
Hoffenheim go into the matchday 19 fixture as the Bundesliga’s second-most in-form team. They took 14 points from the last 18 points available with 17 goals for and 10 against.
The Hoff travel well and are unbeaten in three straight road games. They have obtained 11 points from 27 possible on the road, but have a –1-goal difference.
Union Berlin are undefeated in three straight games in the Bnudesliga. They took eight points from the last 18 points available to them. Six goals were scored and six were conceded.
At home, Union Berlin have posted a point total of 18 points from 27 possible. The Irons’ last three games at home finished without defeat.
Fischer has a major absence in striker Awoniyi. The Nigerian leads the team in goals with nine, but will miss the game due to playing at the Africa Cup of Nations. Union’s next best goalscorers have just three goals apiece.
In addition, Union Berlin forwards Pawel Wszolek and Laurenz Dehl are both ruled out due to positive COVID-19 tests. Giesselmann, who scored in the reverse fixture, is out with a hip problem.
Up to eight players could be missing from Hoffenheim’s team. Players such as Mijat Gacinovic, Pavel Kaderabek, and Robert Skov are out with injuries. In addition, Hoffenheim’s Florian Grillitsch and Marco John are expected to miss following positive COVID-19 tests.
The last two matches between these sides finished as score draws. The trend of score draws should continue as Union Berlin and Hoffenheim play out a stalemate in this top-seven clash.