VfL Wolfsburg – Union Berlin
After the best European national teams competed in international competitions last week, eyes now turn back to the Bundesliga. Matchday 4 is upon us and fans are looking forward to exciting games. Among others, also to the duel between VfL Wolfsburg and Union Berlin next Saturday in the conference.
If we take a look at the table, we see that the hosts from Wolfsburg are currently in seventh place with six points. The Wolves started with two wins, but lost their last match against Hoffenheim with 1:3. The guest from Köpenick also started the new season with two wins and suffered a 0:3 defeat against Leipzig in their own stadium two weeks ago. Thus, the Eisernen are in fifth place before the fourth matchday.
After Hansi Flick played his last game as national coach at the Volkswagen Arena a week ago, two coaches now meet who are firmly in the saddle. Whether the spectators can expect a similarly exciting game as between Germany and Japan on Saturday, you can find out in our Wolfsburg – Union tip.
Wolfsburg – Union info
- Date & Time: 16.09.2023, 15:30 hrs.
- Game venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 4.
- TV coverage: Sky
Wolfsburg form & balance check
Coach Niko Kovac is now very secure in the Wolfsburg coaching saddle. However, this was not always the case during his time with the Wolves. VfL got off to a bumpy start last season after the Croatian took the helm. In the first five games, the Lower Saxons picked up just two points. As the season progressed, however, the Lower Saxons steadily improved and ended up in eighth place.
In the new season, the Wolves got off to a good start. After a 6-0 win in the first round of the cup against Makkabi Berlin, there was a 2-0 win against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga opener. That was followed by a 2-1 win in Cologne before a 3-1 loss to TSG Hoffenheim in Sinsheim.
Arnold only a substitute?
At VfL Wolfsburg, Maximilian Arnold has usually been the key player in midfield in recent years. Despite being only 29 years old, he wears the captain’s armband, making him one of the youngest team captains in the league. However, this fact reflects the general orientation of the VfL squad, which is one of the youngest teams in the Bundesliga with an average age of 24.4 years per game.
Despite his comparatively young age, Maximilian Arnold is an absolute identification figure for the club. He has worn Wolfsburg’s shirt number 27 for more than eleven years and was also an active part of the Wolves in his youth. This season, however, the midfielder has not always been in the starting lineup and has recently functioned more as a kind of noble wild card under coach Kovac.
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
- Eighth in the league in the preseason.
- Lost 1:3 against Hoffenheim in last game
- Scored in every game so far
Union form & balance check
Union Berlin supporters were in seventh heaven in the preseason as the little soccer fairy tale continued in the east of the capital. Urs Fischer’s team exceeded all expectations and finished last season in fourth place, which secured them a spot in this year’s Champions League.
In the first round of the cup, FCU once again put in an extremely solid performance, earning a highly deserved 4-0 win over Walldorf. The Bundesliga opener saw two more convincing 4:1 victories at home against Mainz and in Darmstadt. However, the last home game against Leipzig two weeks ago was a 3-0 defeat.
An Italian in Köpenick
Union strengthened itself this summer break with some highly talented players. With Kevin Volland and Robin Gosens, FCU brought in two former and current internationals, among others. The Eisernen also brought Leonardo Bonucci, a 121-time Italian international and European champion, to the Wuhle.
The defender even already knows the opposing coach. Bonucci already played in a European Championship qualifying match in June 2015 against a team coached by Niko Kovac and drew 1-1 with Italy against Croatia. The 36-year-old is now aiming for his first win with his new team Union Berlin next Saturday.
Union facts & analysis
- Last season in 4th place in the Bundesliga.
- Lost in last game with 0:3 against Leipzig
- The best defense of the past Bundesliga season
Predicted lineup – last update on September 14, 2023
At VfL Wolfsburg, we again expect a 4-3-3. Captain Maximilian Arnold was not particularly convincing against Hoffenheim recently and will probably be back on the bench against Union. Also newcomer Amin Sarr will probably take a seat there for the time being.
At Union, we expect the usual 3-5-2 again, after the 3-4-3 had not worked particularly well against Leipzig recently. Brendon Aaronson returns to the starting lineup after his suspension. However, FCU will have to do without the suspended Kevin Volland in Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg – Union direct comparison & statistics
Both teams have only met in eleven competitive matches so far in their history and the direct comparison clearly goes to the VfL. The Lower Saxons have won five games, while Union have only come away victorious against the Wolves three times. However, Union won both the first leg of the preseason at the Alte Försterei and the 2nd round of last year’s DFB Cup. The last meeting between the two teams, however, ended in a 1-1 draw.
- Union has yet to win a competitive match at the Volkswagen Arena.
- Union won three of last five duels with Wolfsburg
- Both teams with six points from first three games
