Table of Contents
Borussia Dortmund vs. Union Berlin
The next matchday of the Bundesliga will take place next weekend. In total, the teams will play their fifth match. In our Dortmund – Union tip, you can find out everything you need to know about Sunday’s match. Before this match, the two teams have roughly the same conditions. Both Dortmund and Union Berlin have made successful starts to the season. While BVB sits directly behind the top duo of Wolfsburg and Bayern, the Köpenicker are only 3 points away in 8th place. In addition, both clubs have had an English week as they were away on international business. While Dortmund won in Istanbul, Union suffered a bitter defeat in Prague.
During the week, the first international matches were in the respective competitions. BVB flew to Istanbul and silenced the fiery witch’s cauldron of Besiktas there. Union, on the other hand, was very unlucky in Prague. A relatively early red card from Jäckel quickly tilted the game in the direction of the Czechs. Now you might think that the Dortmunders will step onto the pitch with much more self-confidence than the Eisernen do. However, Union have an advantage. They are still unbeaten in the league, which cannot be said of the Black-Yellows. This fact will boost the Berliners’ self-confidence.
Dortmund – Union Berlin Info
– Date & Time: 19.09.2021, at 17:30 hrs.
– Venue: Dortmund, Signal-Iduna Park (81,365 spectators)
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 5
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Dortmund Form & Balance Check
BVB have started this season quite confidently. If you neglect the slip-up at Freiburg, then the rest is quite respectable. With 3 wins and a total of 13 goals scored, Dortmund is in 3rd place. The offensive can definitely be considered the jewel in the crown of the black and yellows. Together with Bayern, they are the league leaders in this discipline. However, they are also top in the category of most goals conceded. The combination of the many injuries of regular staff and the defensive tactics that are not yet running optimally results in 9 goals conceded in 4 games, which is far too many by BVB standards. Fortunately, the Black and Yellow fans could rely on the offensive in most matches, which covered the defensive weaknesses with goals.
Another forced break
Before the Bundesliga match against Union, Marco Rose gave a personnel update in which he first announced bad news. Julian Brandt, who has only recently blossomed, will have to rest for 2-3 weeks due to a muscle injury. After he already had to take a break at the end of the preparation due to Covid-19, this is another setback for the Dortmund player. In contrast, Rose announced that Mats Hummels is ready for action. In addition, the BVB coach left open whether Thorgan Hazard will make it into the squad for Sunday’s match after his injury.
Dortmund facts & analysis
– Very strong offence (league best).
– However, also weak defence
– Julian Brandt drops out
– Regulars in the defence return (ex. Hummels)
– Double burden
Union Berlin Form & Balance Check
The Eisernen from the capital are the surprise team of the season alongside Mainz and Cologne. As one of 4 teams in the Bundesliga, Union is still unbeaten, a fact that BVB does not have to show. This will give the Köpenickers a lot of self-confidence for the game in Dortmund. In the Bundesliga games so far, Union managed to snatch a draw against favoured teams like Leverkusen and Hoffenheim. Against the Borussians from Gladbach, they even scored their first win of the season. Now the Eisern face the other Borussians, those from Dortmund. No one needs to be told that this will be a completely different task. The capital’s defence will have to be prepared for the brute offensive power around Erling Haaland. If the Union performance is similar to the one in Prague, then it will probably not remain at 3 goals conceded.
Mohwald is threatened with another absence
After Kevin Möhwald, the fresh new arrival of the Köpenicker, had to rest against Prague, the German is threatened with another absence against BVB. The thigh injury seems to be more serious than initially thought. Whether Möhwald will be able to make the squad against BVB is still questionable. In addition, there will probably be a few rotations in the Union line-up. After the disappointing performance in Prague, many players are very exhausted and not 100% fit. It will be interesting to see how Urs Fischer sets up his team.
Union facts & analysis
– Union unbeaten in the league
– Disappointing performance against Slavia Prague
– Möhwald still questionable
– 100% win ratio against Borussia this season
Predicted line-up – last update on 17 September 2021
BVB’s system will be the usual 4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield. Instead of Julian Brandt, who is out due to injury, Mo Dahoud will take over the eighth position. Witsel will replace him on the six. In the forward line, it will be a 50/50 decision between Malen and Moukoko. The Dutchman started the last games, but could rarely convince. The Eisern will also stay true to their system. In the usual 3-5-2 system, Haraguchi again replaced the injured Möhwald. In addition, Becker could move into the starting eleven in place of Kruse.
Dortmund – Union Berlin direct comparison & Statistics
The duel between BVB and Union has only taken place 4 times in the Bundesliga and 2 times in the DFB Cup. In these duels, Dortmund managed to record 4 victories. There were no draws, and the Eisernen managed to pick up 2 victories. BVB always won the cup matches. In the league, on the other hand, the score is 2:2 in terms of victories. Neither team has managed to beat the other both times in one season.
– Balanced league record between Dortmund and Union
– Dortmund always managed to win in knockout games
– The home team won in every encounter
– BVB’s last home match against Union ended 5:0
– Union still goalless in Dortmund
