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Union Berlin – Schalke 04
Everything is set for the 21st matchday in the Bundesliga and there are once again thrilling games coming up this weekend. Especially in terms of the championship, it is more exciting than it has been for years. The record champions from Munich are leading the league as expected, but Bayern are currently only one point ahead of Union Berlin. They, in turn, have to deal with the bottom team from Gelsenkirchen on Sunday and you can find out whether Schalke can give Union a leg up in our Union – Schalke tip.
20 matchdays have already been played in the 2022/23 Bundesliga season and a look at the table will please all Berlin fans at the moment. The club from the capital is currently in second place with 42 points. Together with BVB, Union is the only team in the league that has not lost a point in 2023. The Schalkers can only dream of that at the moment. Despite three draws in a row, S04 are still at the bottom of the table and are currently seven points behind the rescue bank.
Union – Schalke info:
– Date & Time: 19.02.2023, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 21
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Union Form & Balance Check
Berliners will wish that the current period probably never ends. Union has been playing incredibly successful football since the turn of the year at the latest. In the new year, with the exception of the duel in Amsterdam during the week, Union have won all their other games. This was also the case last weekend, when the top game at the Red Bulls from Leipzig was on the agenda. In the city of trade fairs, coach Urs Fischer’s men once again showed great morale. Henrichs put the East Berliners behind early on. Haberer and Knoche, however, let the Berliners rejoice in the end and thanks to the three points, Union is still Bayern’s number one hunter.
Will Union extend their record?
Union Berlin is and remains a phenomenon. The Berliners created a novelty with last week’s win against Leipzig. Never before has Union won five in a row in the Bundesliga. Next Sunday, the second-placed team in the table has a great chance to extend this record. If they win against Schalke, it will also be their first home victory against the Knappen. So far, the two teams have always drawn 1-1 in Berlin, and Union will once again rely on their incredible heading power in the upcoming match. The Berliners have scored twelve goals with their heads so far. That is by far the most in the league.
Union facts & analysis
– Currently second in the Bundesliga standings.
– Second best defence in the Bundesliga
– Won 5 games in a row in the league
Schalke form & balance check
Is Schalke still on course to stay in the league? The Knappen have only won two games this year. Nevertheless, the Schalke team is currently well on the way out of the crisis. The last three games in a row were 0-0, and even though that seems to be a success from the Knappen’s point of view at first glance, the fans are starting to get restless. Especially in the last game against VfL Wolfsburg, more would have been possible in the end.
Although VfL even missed a penalty, Schalke also had good opportunities. But the weakest offensive team in the league once again failed to score a goal of its own. The 14 goals after 20 match days are simply not good enough for the Bundesliga.
Will the horror series continue?
Schalker fans know what’s on the agenda this coming Sunday. The talk, of course, is of an unloved away game. If we take a closer look at the bare numbers, there is nothing to suggest a win in Berlin. Schalke have not won for an incredible 37 away games.
Even if it is almost logical, but this series is the longest in the history of the Bundesliga. Never before has a team waited so long for an away treble. If we look at the direct record against Union, it is quite respectable. The 1:6 defeat in the first leg was the only defeat against the Berliners to date.
Schalke facts & analysis
– Currently in 18th place.
– None of the last 37 away games won
– Scored only 14 goals so far
Predicted line-up – last updated 18 Feb 2023
What reason would coach Urs Fischer have to change anything in such a well-rehearsed eleven? With regard to the upcoming match, we expect to see the same team again that won in Leipzig on the last matchday. Doekhi, Knoche and Leite will play in the three-man backline again. Khedira, Seguin and Haberer will close down the centre. Behrens and Becker will again play forward.
As for the Schalkers, coach Thomas Reis’ team has not lost in three games. The Knappen will therefore go into the match at the Alte Försterei without any changes. Fährmann will again be preferred to Schwolow. Yoshida and Jens will form the defensive duo. Frey will play from the start and Terodde will probably come on during the match.
Union – Schalke direct comparison & Statistics
Both teams have faced each other in six games so far and Schalke have a narrow lead. Two wins for the Knappen plus three draws and one success for Union. This was in the first leg and it was a 6:1 win.
Union Berlin scores an average of 1.9 goals at home and Schalke 04 an average of 1.82 goals in away matches.
– Schalke 04 have not conceded a goal in 3 matches
– Union Berlin have not lost any of their last 14 home matches
– Union Berlin have won 7 home games in a row
