Union Berlin vs. Hoffenheim preview: Hosts out to continue head-to-head winning run

Union Berlin

Union have won two and lost one of their opening three competitive matches of the 2025/26 campaign. Steffen Baumgart’s side kicked off the campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Gütersloh in the DFB-Pokal, before they claimed a narrow 1-0 home win over Stuttgart on matchday one of the Bundesliga season.

Unfortunately for Union, they were unable to pick up another positive result in their second league match against Borussia Dortmund, falling to a heavy 3-0 away defeat before the international break. Incidentally, that result ended Union’s five-game unbeaten away league run since they suffered a 6-0 loss against the same opponent in February.

Die Eisernen will fancy their chances of bouncing back against Hoffenheim, having won each of their last three head-to-head meetings, including a dominant 4-0 away win in February. Meanwhile, they edged out die Kraichgauer via a 2-1 scoreline when the two sides last met at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei in September 2024.

Team News

Union are unable to call upon Stanley Nsoki, András Schäfer, Livan Burcu and Diogo Leite. Meanwhile, Croatia international Josip Juranović is a doubt for Saturday’s home clash.

Predicted lineup: Rønnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Rothe; Trimmel, Jeong, Khedira, Haberer, Skov; Ansah, Ilić

Hoffenheim

Like Union, Hoffenheim also kicked off the new season with back-to-back victories, including a 4-0 win over Hansa Rostock in the Pokal. Hoffenheim then came from behind to claim a narrow 2-1 victory in their away league clash against Bayer Leverkusen. Unfortunately for die Kraichgauer, they were quickly brought down to earth in their opening home game against Eintracht Frankfurt. Grischa Prömel scored a late consolation as Hoffenheim slumped to a 3-1 defeat at the PreZero Arena.

They are now preparing to head on their travels, knowing they have the chance to record consecutive away league victories for just the second time in 2025. However, that will be easier said than done, considering they have not beaten Union since recording a 2-0 away victory in September 2023. That result represents the only victory they have picked up in their previous five head-to-head away meetings. With that said, the visitors can at least take confidence from the fact that they have found the net in each of their six Bundesliga away games against Union.

Team News

Hoffenheim are without the injured trio of Valentin Gendrey, Adam Hložek and Koki Machida. However, in positive news, Wouter Burger is fit for the away trip after sitting out the defeat to Frankfurt before the international break.

Predicted lineups: Baumann; Coufal, Hranáč, Hajdari, Bernardo; Kramarić, Avdullahu, Prömel, Touré; Lemperle, Asllani

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