Key Facts
- After 17 matchdays, Stuttgart is in fourth place with 32 points, level with Leipzig; with only a two-point lead over Hoffenheim, every slip-up counts.
- Union travels in ninth place with 23 points, level on points with Freiburg and four points ahead of Gladbach – for both teams, this feels like a decisive step towards Europe.
- Stuttgart is in strong form: four wins from five games and 13 goals; Undav and Leweling scored in two consecutive games and were instrumental in the 4-1 win in Leverkusen.
- Union’s recent stability is evident in four league games without defeat and a 1-1 draw in Augsburg despite being a man down; they have also scored in the second half in five consecutive games.
- In head-to-head comparisons, Stuttgart has a slight edge in five matches (3/1/1), but Union’s 2-1 win in August 2025 ended Stuttgart’s previous dominance in this matchup.
- The market sees Stuttgart as favorites at home at odds of 1.7; “Both teams to score” and “Over 2.5 goals” seem plausible given Stuttgart’s 80% over rate and lack of central defenders.
An unfinished business from the 2-1 opener hangs over this duel when Union Berlin visits VfB Stuttgart at the MHPArena on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Sebastian Hoeneß’s team is in fourth place with 32 points, level on points with RB Leipzig and just two points ahead of Hoffenheim. Steffen Baumgart’s Union team is ninth with 23 points, also level on points with Freiburg and four points ahead of Gladbach – for both teams, it feels like a fork in the road towards Europe. Stuttgart is starting the league year with real momentum: three wins from their last five league games, including a 4-1 win in Leverkusen and a 3-2 thriller against Frankfurt, even though Zagadou and Jaquez are still out and El Khannouss is with the national team. Union have lost only once in their last five league games and have just stolen a 1-1 draw in Augsburg, even though they were down to ten men at the end. Baumgart has just extended his contract but will be traveling without the suspended Köhn.
- Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart
- Date and time: January 18, 2026, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 18)
The market makes Stuttgart the clear favorites at home, with odds of 1.7. Stuttgart winning seems plausible given the momentum from their successes against Leverkusen and Frankfurt, especially as Undav and Leweling repeatedly pull apart defensive lines. Nevertheless, Union has proven its tenacity under Baumgart, with late goals in Mainz and Augsburg. That’s why “Both teams to score: Yes” and “Over 2.5 goals” are appealing, especially since Stuttgart will have to do without Zagadou and Jaquez in central defense.
Stuttgart Form & Record Check
After 17 matchdays, Stuttgart is in 4th place with 32 points, level on points with RB Leipzig above them and only two points ahead of Hoffenheim behind them, so every clean performance counts. Hoeneß has his team playing with a confidence that has clearly survived the winter break well, and you can sense that this team wants to make its mark on its opponents. The downside is that the gaps around the Champions League places are extremely tight.
Hoeneß is likely to stick with Stuttgart’s usual 4-2-2-2 formation, with Nübel behind a back four of Vagnoman, Chabot, Hendriks, and Mittelstädt. The double six with Karazor and Stiller will set the pace and secure the center, while Leweling and Führich will operate in the half-spaces to feed a strike duo that could see Undav alongside Bouanani.
Union Berlin Form & Record Check
Union Berlin come to Stuttgart in ninth place with 23 points, level on points with Freiburg above them and four points clear of Mönchengladbach behind them. Things have stabilized in the league, with the team unbeaten in four games since the setback against Wolfsburg, and Baumgart’s contract extension underlines this sense of continuity.
Nevertheless, a goal difference of minus 3 shows that they are not coasting, they are working hard for their results.
Baumgart is likely to stick with his familiar 3-1-4-2 formation in Stuttgart, with Rönnow behind a back three of Doekhi, Querfeld, and Leite. The key is Khedira as a defensive midfielder in front of them, allowing Trimmel and Juranovic to push far forward as wingbacks and deliver balls to the front early on. Up front, Ansah is expected to play alongside Ilic to go for second balls and grab hold of the ball in transition moments when Union breaks through.
Stuttgart – Union Berlin Head-to-head & statistics
In the last five head-to-head matches, Stuttgart has narrowly come out on top with three wins, one draw, and one defeat. However, Union had the upper hand in the most recent encounter, winning 2-1 at home in August 2025 to end Stuttgart’s previous dominance in this fixture. Before that, the points had gone to Stuttgart fairly reliably, especially in the closer games.
