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Union Berlin vs. RB Leipzig
The top match of matchday 3 in the Bundesliga doesn’t just say top match on it – it also has top match in it. Union Berlin, still unbeaten in the Europa League, will host RB Leipzig, still unbeaten and winless in the Champions League. Kick-off is at 18:30 at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei on Saturday evening.
The hosts have made the best Bundesliga start in the club’s history with four points from two games. Since promotion in 2019, the Eisernen have steadily improved and now seem to have absorbed the departure of top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi very well.
RB, on the other hand, got off to a rather suboptimal start with the two draws against Stuttgart and Cologne. If they don’t get a three-goal win in the capital either, the Saxons can confidently speak of a false start. Whether we are convinced of this and what other predictions we have for this game, is now revealed in our Union vs Leipzig tip.
Union Berlin – Leipzig info:
– Date & Time: 20.08.2022, 18:30 Uhr
– Venue: Stadion an der Alten Försterei, Berlin
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 3
– TV broadcast: Sky Sport
Union Berlin Form & Balance Check
The rise of 1. FC Union Berlin just doesn’t come to an end. After finishing their first season in the Bundesliga in eleventh place, the Eisernen have steadily worked their way up the table in the past two years, finishing seventh and fifth. Now, with four points from two games, the Capitals have made their best ever Bundesliga start, are unbeaten for nine Bundesliga games (7S, 2U, a new club record) and seem to be in the top third of the table again this season. From a neutral point of view, one can only take one’s hat off to this strong development.
The Ironmen remain true to themselves
The team’s style of play has changed precious little this season. The loss of top goal-scorer Taiwo Awoniyi was excellently compensated for with the signing of Jordan Siebatcheu, who is similarly robust but slightly stronger on the ball. For Grischa Prömel, who had left the team, we were able to sign Jannik Haberer, an experienced player whose strengths come into their own in such a compact team.
The first two matchdays of the new season have already shown that the new signings fit in perfectly with Union’s playing philosophy. In both the 3:1 derby win against Hertha and the 0:0 in Mainz, the Berliners did not allow a single major chance! So it seems to be a Herculean task again this year to create promising scoring opportunities against Union.
Union Berlin facts & analysis
– 4 points after 2 games – best BL start in club history.
– Last played 0:0 in Mainz
– No big chance allowed in either BL game
Leipzig form & balance check
The visitors from Leipzig have not really got going yet. After the clear defeat in the Supercup against Bayern (3:5), the Saxons first separated themselves from VfB Stuttgart with a 1-1 draw, before also last weekend against 1. FC Köln (2:2) no victory jumped out. However, the early red card for Dominik Szoboszlai (45th) also made life unnecessarily difficult for the Saxons. Afterwards, RB even took the lead at 1-1 when they were shorthanded, but could not hold on to it. An own goal by Gvardiol (72.) secured a point for the Effzeh in the end.
RB stands in its own way
The Leipzigers had already robbed themselves of victory in the previous 1-1 draw in Stuttgart. There, however, not with a sending-off, but with the negligent use of chances. Of the incredible 28 shots RB only managed to put one in the opponent’s goal. Against the upcoming opponents from Berlin, who have not allowed a single major chance so far, nothing will be gained with such effectiveness. Leipzig must be compact at the back and take advantage of what are likely to be few opportunities up front. Otherwise, with three games without a win in the Bundesliga to start with, Leipzig will be in danger of making a false start.
Leipzig facts & analysis
– 2 points after 2 games
– Last played 2:2 against Cologne
– Last season 1 point more scored than Union
Predicted line-up – last updated on 19 August 2022
For the Berliners, the starting eleven is as good as set in stone. Only on the right side, Ryerson could play instead of Christopher Trimmel. The only player missing is Timo Baumgartl (testicular tumour).
The guests from Leipzig have, as always, many options to choose from. In midfield, we expect Konrad Laimer and Kevin Kampl, although Amadou Haidara and Emil Forsberg are also possible options. Dominik Szoboszlai saw the red card on Matchday 2 and is missing after the first sending-off of his professional career. Lukas Klostermann, Yusuff Poulsen and regular keeper Peter Gulacsi are missing due to injury, so substitute keeper Janis Blaswich will make his debut for Leipzig.
Personnel update ahead FCURBL 🗞⤵️
– Pete Gulacsi picked up a right adductor injury in the Cologne game & will be out against @fcunion
– @lukaskl96 and @yussufyurary are unfortunately still missing for us
– Konni Laimer has fully joined team training pic.twitter.com/jTtCvTbQG4
– RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) August 18, 2022
Union Berlin – Leipzig direct comparison & Statistics
The direct comparison is narrowly in Leipzig’s favour with six wins to four and one draw, but Union have been playing well in recent years. The FCU have won all three of their last Bundesliga encounters 2:1, and in between there was a DFB Cup encounter, which Leipzig won 2:1. At their own stadium, Union have only lost one of five games against RB so far, namely the very first game in Bundesliga history in August 2019 with 0:4.
– Both teams have not won their last match in the Bundesliga.
– The average goals scored when Union Berlin and RB Leipzig meet is 2.6.
– Union Berlin have not lost any of their last 11 home matches.
– Last season Union Berlin won both matches against RB Leipzig (2-1 at home and 2-1 away).
