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TSG Hoffenheim – Union Berlin
The penultimate matchday in the Bundesliga is coming up this weekend and there is still an extreme amount at stake in all games. This is also the case at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim. There, TSG Hoffenheim will host 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are desperate to get three points this weekend, but their situation in the standings is completely different. In our Hoffenheim – Union tip, you can find out which team will win an important three points in Kraichgau.
The hosts from Kraichgau are still fighting their way into the 2nd Bundesliga two matchdays before the end. TSG currently occupy 14th place in the table. However, the Kraichgauers only have a two-point lead over the relegation place. And VfB Stuttgart in 17th place are also only three points behind TSG.
The guests from the east of Berlin, on the other hand, are still fighting for a place in the Champions League. The Köpenickers put themselves in a strong position the previous week. FCU won 4:2 against their direct rivals from Freiburg at the Alte Försterei at home, cementing their fourth place in the table. Before the last two matches, Union thus has a three-point lead over fifth place. Union coach Urs Fischer will definitely be looking forward to Saturday’s clash, as the Swiss has yet to lose a direct encounter against Pellegrino Matarazzo.
Hoffenheim – Union Info:
- Date & Time: 20.05.2023, 15:30 Uhr
- Game venue: PreZero Arena, Sinsheim
- Competition: Bundesliga, 33. matchday
- TV broadcast: Sky
Hoffenheim Form & Balance Check
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are fighting tooth and nail against relegation to the 2. Bundesliga. Currently, the Kraichgauer are in 14th place in the table and are just three points ahead of 17th place, which is occupied by VfB Stuttgart. After a short phase of upswing, however, Hoffenheim’s performance curve is pointing downwards again.
TSG won only one of their last five games in the Bundesliga. In the previous week, the Kraichgauer could have already taken a big step towards staying in the relegation zone. However, coach Mattarazzo’s team lost 1:2 in Wolfsburg and thus must continue to tremble.
Rudy only addition
With midfielder Dennis Geiger suffering a back injury at short notice last week, former international Sebastian Rudy was once again given a start. However, the now 33-year-old is only a supplementary player in the Kraichgau this season and played only 24% of the minutes in this Bundesliga season.
Since 2019, the midfielder has again played almost continuously for TSG. Rudy finally moved from Schalke to TSG in 2021. The former Bayern player was never happy at the Knappen. In the meantime, however, Hoffenheim’s rival from Gelsenkirchen has paid off the transfer five years ago. The Königsblauen transferred the last instalment to Munich in March.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
- Only one win in last five games.
- Eight home defeats already
- Just two points off relegation place
Union Form & Balance Check
Union Berlin simply cannot be ousted from the Bundesliga’s top four. The Eisernen were only two games this season not among the best four teams in the German Oberhaus. After the FCU experienced a small dip in form and won only one of five games, coach Urs Fischer’s team showed its class again in the previous week.
In the direct duel for the top flight against SC Freiburg, the Eisernen retained the upper hand with 4:2. Thus, with two matchdays to go, Union has a three-point lead over the Breisgauer below them. In addition, the Eisernen’s goal difference is eight goals better than that of SCF.
Only strong at home?
The fans will not be happy that the important match is taking place in Sinsheim this weekend. The Eisernen are much worse on a foreign pitch than in their own living room this season. While Union has yet to concede a single defeat at the Alte Försterei, the Köpenicker have already suffered seven defeats away from home.
Three of the seven defeats were against teams from the lower half of the table. This was also the case at the last guest game in Augsburg. A fortnight ago, the Eisernen lost 0:1 to FCA, who simply couldn’t find an antidote against the deep-lying Fuggerstädter.
Union facts & analysis
- Fourth in the Bundesliga table
- Best defence in the Bundesliga
- So far seven away defeats this Bundesliga season
Predicted line-up – last update on 18 May 2023
Hoffenheim are again expected to play in a 3-5-2 against the Eisernen, with Bebou again deputising for the injured Kadeřábek on the right. Whether Dennis Geiger will be fit for the starting eleven again will only be decided in the short term. Stanley Nsoki is definitely still missing in defence with a red.
Union will again start with a 3-5-2. Becker and Behrens will again play together up front. András Schäfer made his starting eleven comeback the previous week against Freiburg. Aïssa Laïdouni also made a case for the starting eleven with his goal.
Hoffenheim – Union Direct comparison & Statistics
So far, the two teams have met in seven encounters. TSG Hoffenheim emerged victorious twice, while Union Berlin triumphed three times. Two games ended in a draw. In their last meeting in January, Union came out on top with a 3:1 win.
- Hoffenheim have not won any of their last five matches against Union.
- When Hoffenheim lead 1-0 in home games, they win only 75% of the games.
- Union Berlin have failed to score in 5 of their 16 away games in the Bundesliga this season
