Union Berlin – Borussia Dortmund
The ball is rolling again this weekend in the Bundesliga stadiums. The Saturday conference of the 24th matchday offers full excitement again with five games. Among others, Union Berlin will host Borussia Dortmund. Find out who will win this clash and who will come away empty-handed in our Union – Dortmund betting tip.
Union were able to fight their way to a 2-2 draw against FC Heidenheim last weekend and are continuing to stabilize their position in the table. The bottom half of the table is tight and the Köpenickers must continue to concentrate on their performances to avoid slipping back into the dangerous zone. With Dortmund and Stuttgart as their next two opponents, however, the Berliners face two difficult tasks.
BVB failed to extend their lead over Leipzig last weekend, as Dortmund, like RB, conceded a defeat. Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier scored a brace within three minutes to seal defeat for the Black & Yellows. A win is needed against Union if they are not to lose their Champions League qualification places.
Union – Dortmund info
- Date & Time: 02.03.2024, 15:30 hrs.
- Location: Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 24
Union Form & Balance Check
Union’s run continues as the latest draw means the team have not lost in four games. The Berliners have picked up a solid eleven points from their six second-round games and are in fifth place in the second-round table. Coach Nenad Bjelica’s team currently have a total of 25 points, eight points ahead of 1. FC Köln in the relegation places.
The difference to a direct relegation place is already ten points. The Iron Ferns therefore appear to have achieved a turnaround, but would do well to maintain the momentum of recent weeks and take something worthwhile against Dortmund and Stuttgart in order to maintain the gap to the relegation zone
Defensive play
Coach Bjelica can be particularly satisfied with his team’s defensive work. In the six games in the second half of the season, the score was level three times after 90 minutes and the Berliners conceded just five goals in total. In the first half of the season, on the other hand, there was only one game without conceding a goal.
While they conceded 32 goals in the first half of the season, or 1.8 goals per game, the Irons were able to improve this rate by a whole goal less per game and conceded an average of just 0.8 goals in the second half of the season.
Union facts & analysis
- Place 14 in the table
- last match draw
- Not lost in four games
Dortmund Form & Balance Check
Dortmund continue to stumble and failed to win for the third consecutive competitive match this weekend. The 2:3 home defeat against TSG hurts, as a win would have increased their lead over their closest rivals for the Champions League places, RB Leipzig, to four points. As it is, it remains at just one point and BVB are still under pressure.
From Dortmund’s point of view, the championship drop is over, as leaders Leverkusen are 20 points ahead of BVB. BVB’s place in the quarter-finals of the Premier League is also in jeopardy, as they only managed a 1-1 draw in the first leg at PSV Eindhoven the week before last.
Terzić wobbles
Even though the recent defeat to Hoffenheim was their first defeat in 2024, BVB are on a downward trend. The Black & Yellows are in danger of missing their target for the season and discussions about coach Edin Terzić are getting louder.
Only the Europa League or even no international qualification place at all would be the worst-case scenario for Dortmund and, due to the lack of ideas in BVB’s play and the potential drop in the table, confidence in Terzić now appears to be crumbling. The behavior of the fans also shows how tense the situation is, as Dortmund’s otherwise loyal supporters reacted to the defeat against Hoffenheim with whistles
Dortmund facts & analysis
- Fourth place in the table
- Last game lost
- Only one win from the last four games
Union play in a 3-5-2 formation with Kevin Volland and Benedict Hollerbach up front. Compared to last weekend’s game against Heidenheim, Diogo Leite, who was suspended, is back in the back three. Robin Gosens is suspended this week and will probably be replaced by Jerome Roussillon or Janik Haberer.
We don’t expect many changes at Dortmund compared to the last game. In the 4-3-3 system, Gregor Kobel should be back in goal after his injury. In defense, Niklas Süle could take the place of Mats Hummels. The offense around Jadon Sancho and Niclas Füllkrug will have to do without Donyell Malen, who is suspended with a yellow card. We expect Julian Brandt to replace him from the start
Union – Dortmund head-to-head & stats
There have only been eleven matches between Union and Dortmund. BVB have won seven of those games, while the Iron have only won three. The Berliners have only won one of the last five matches and have lost four.
The very first meetings took place in the DFB Cup. These cup encounters in 2016 and 2018 both went to Dortmund. Union’s last victory dates back to 2022, when the Berliners claimed a 2-0 win on matchday 10 of the Bundesliga
Direct comparison (H2H)
