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VfL Wolfsburg vs. Union Berlin
On Saturday, the two teams involved in the most spectacular winter transfer within the Bundesliga will play each other in the Bundesliga. VFL Wolfsburg, Max Kruse’s new team, will welcome Union Berlin, the 33-year-old striker’s old club. Kick-off at the Volkswagen Arena is at 15:30.
The transfer of Max Kruse for around 5 million euros made sense for everyone involved. Max Kruse got a longer contract with more salary, Union got 5 million euros for a player whose contract would have expired in the summer, and VfL Wolfsburg got one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga. Football lovers nevertheless turn up their noses.
Find out who we think will come out on top in this weekend’s sporting duel between the two teams and what other predictions we have for this match in our Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin tip.
Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin info
– Date & Time: 05.03.2022, at 15:30 hrs.
– Venue: Wolfsburg, Volkswagen Arena
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 25
– TV broadcast: SKY
Wolfsburg Form & Balance Check
Ahead of the 25th matchday in the Bundesliga, VfL Wolfsburg are twelfth in the table with 28 points. The Lower Saxons are already nine points behind seventh place (Union Berlin with 37 points), a possible Europa Cup place. However, they are “only” five points away from the relegation place (Hertha BSC with 23 points).
Back on the ground
The signing of Max Kruse had an immediate effect. After nine winless league games before, VfL promptly won twice (4:1 against Greuther Fürth & 2:0 at Eintracht Frankfurt). In the last two games, however, a little disillusionment set in again in the Autostadt. At home, the Wolves lost 2-1 to Hoffenheim after leading 1-0. On the last matchday they even squandered a two-goal lead against Gladbach (2:2).
Wolfsburg facts & analysis
– 2 league games in a row not won.
– scored 4 league games in a row
– Conceded two goals in each of last 2 matches
Union form & balance check
Union Berlin are through to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup for the second time in the club’s history! On Tuesday, the Köpenicker defeated FC St. Pauli 2-1 after trailing 0:1. Union reached the Cup semi-finals for the first time in the 2000/01 season. At that time, as a regional league team, they won against Borussia from Mönchengladbach in a penalty shootout and entered the final. There, however, they lost 0:2 to FC Schalke 04, who shortly before had missed out on the possible German championship against FC Bayern München.
Scary Bundesliga record without Max Kruse
In the last game with Max Kruse, Union Berlin defeated Gladbach (2:1) and jumped to fourth place in the Bundesliga. The striker said goodbye with a brace against the Foals and then switched to VfL. Union then collapsed. The Köpenicker lost their next three games against Augsburg (0:2), Dortmund (0:3) and Bielefeld (0:1) and remained without a goal of their own in each case.
Last weekend, the Berliners celebrated the first success of the post-Kruse era. They defeated the in-form Mainz 3:1. However, anyone who followed the game knows that it could have taken a different course. 6:15 shots on goal were recorded in the end from Berlin’s point of view, although Mainz played more than 30 minutes with a shorthanded team.
Union facts & analysis
– 2 must-win games in a row.
– Lost 3 of last 4 league games
– 9 consecutive competitive matches conceded at least 1 goal
Predicted line-up – last updated 3 Mar 2022
We expect VfL Wolfsburg to make no major changes to their starting eleven after recent strong performances in the early stages. With centre-back Maxence Lacroix missing through red suspension, we look forward to Micky van de Ven making his first starting appearance. The two wing-backs William and Paulo Otavio are still missing due to injury.
Union coach Urs Fischer, on the other hand, can draw from a full complement at the moment. After the cup match on Tuesday, however, he might want to give one or the other player a breather. We expect the above line-up in the 3-5-2 system.
Wolfsburg – Union direct comparison & Statistics
Since the Eisern have been playing in the Bundesliga, the record between VfL and Union has been relatively even. Wolfsburg left the pitch as winners twice, Union once. Two encounters ended in a 2:2 draw. In the first half of the season, Union were victorious 2-0 in Berlin. Taiwo Awoniyi and Sheraldo Becker scored the goals.
– VFL Wolfsburg have squandered a lead twice in a row
– VFL Wolfsburg has won 1 of their last six home games
– Union Berlin have lost 2 away matches in a row
– Union Berlin have failed to score in 2 away matches in a row
