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Union Berlin – TSG Hoffenheim
For a whole ten weeks the fan had to wait for the Bundesliga. The extended winter break and the World Cup in Qatar are now over and the focus of the 18 teams will return to the league from next Friday. Before the start of the second half of the season is scheduled for the weekend after next, the teams first have the 16th matchday ahead of them. On Saturday at 3:30 p.m., the Eisernen from Berlin and TSG from Hoffenheim will face off. Find out who we think could get off to the better start in the new year in our Union – Hoffenheim tip.
If we take a closer look at the Bundesliga table after the first 15 match days, we see that Berlin are once again in a strong fifth place. Even though the club from Köpenick has been waiting for a win for three games, coach Urs Fischer’s team has once again been convincing all along the line. The upcoming opponents from Hoffenheim, on the other hand, have deteriorated compared to last season and TSG are currently in eleventh place. Here, too, the last results were anything but satisfactory.
Union – Hoffenheim info:
– Date & Time: 21.01.2023, 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Stadion an der Alten Försterei, Berlin
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 16
– TV broadcast: Sky Sport
Union Form & Balance Check
The Ironmen from Berlin might actually have been quite satisfied with their first 15 games had their form not completely departed in the last three games. Before the ten-week break, virtually nothing went right for the men from the capital. Union lost 5-0 at Bayer Leverkusen and 4-1 at Sport-Club Freiburg. Only in the last home match, the 2:2 against FCA, did Union get something countable on the scoreboard.
Coach Urs Fischer has put his finger in the wound and worked above all on defensive stability. Nevertheless, the mood in Berlin is anything but bad. Union is once again playing a great season and the Eisern have always been among the top five in the league. With 27 points, the Eisern are also playing the best first half of the season in the club’s history.
Very strong in the air
Union is now known throughout Germany for being extremely dangerous, especially from corners and free kicks. Captain Christopher Trimmel usually brings the stationary ball into the penalty area and that the balls also very often find their target is shown by the bare figures. With eight headed goals, Union has the most in the entire league. Moreover, only two goals are missing before the Eisern have equalled the number from last season. This coming Saturday, Union will also face a team against whom they have done very well for the most part in recent games. The Berliners have not lost to TSG for four games now (two wins and two draws).
Union facts & analysis
– Only 1 point from last 3 matches.
– Most goals scored by head (8)
– Since 4 games without defeat against TSG
Hoffenheim form & balance check
The TSG from Hoffenheim actually wanted to make a big step forward this season and the start under the new coach Andre Breitenreiter also went quite well, but since mid-October at the latest, the Kraichgauer are somehow trapped in the midfield of the table. Not much has happened in the last few weeks, both upwards and downwards. TSG has been waiting for a win for five games now. Even though coach Breitenreiter is not yet up for discussion, points are needed in the coming weeks. Compared to last season, Hoffenheim have eight points less on their account at the moment.
Very strong from the outside
All is not bad at TSG, however. Especially the play through the outsides has made Hoffenheim strong in the first 15 games. With seven goals from crosses so far, TSG leads the scoring in the Bundesliga. Whether this will also be one of their strengths in the new year is more than questionable. One of the reasons for this thesis is the departure of Rutter. The Frenchman moved to Leeds United on the island for an incredible 40 million euros. Hoffenheim had already brought in the Dane Dolberg as a new addition to their attack, but Rutter will hardly be replaceable on a 1:1 basis.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– Already 7 goals from crosses – top value
– Since 5 games without a win
– Worse than last season after matchday 15
Predicted line-up – last update on 19 January 2023
There are no big surprises in the Berlin first eleven. Coach Urs Fischer will again use his usual 3-5-2 and the top two will once again consist of Jordan and Becker. Union will have to do without the suspended central defender Leite and the injured Schäfer and Thorsby.
The upcoming opponent from Hoffenheim is likely to play in a 3-5-2 in the first match of the new year. Defensively, it will probably be a 5-3-2. Coach Breitenreiter will bring in newcomer Dolberg right from the start. Together with Kramaric, the Dane should provide the goals. With the exception of Ribeiro, Bruun Larsen and ex-Union player Prömel, TSG can draw on a full complement of players.
Union – Hoffenheim direct comparison & Statistics
Both teams have faced each other in six matches so far. Twice TSG won, twice Union and in two games there was a draw. In the last duel, Union prevailed 2:1.
– TSG Hoffenheim have won only 1 match out of their last 4 in Bundesliga against Union Berlin
– Union Berlin’s current performance in Bundesliga is better than TSG Hoffenheim’s performance.
– TSG Hoffenheim has scored in each of their last 9 matches
– Union Berlin have not lost any of their last 11 home matches
