Bundesliga: Wolfsburg Smell Blood on Union Berlin

VfL Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin

Union Berlin don’t have much time to rest as they’re scheduled to visit VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena two days after their six-goal thriller against Union Saint-Gilliose in their Europa League Round of 16 tie.

Die Eisernen are hoping to stay alive in the Bundesliga title race. They were on top of the table not too long ago, but because of their recent Bundesliga 2023 results, as well as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund’s strong runs, they have fallen to third place with 44 points.

VfL Wolfsburg, on the other hand, are aiming to sneak into the European picture. They’re currently in eighth place with 34 points, so now is the time for them to string together another good run of results.

Continue to read below as SBOTOP provides a preview for this contest.

Talking Points

VfL Wolfsburg won’t have their defencive pillars

The Wolves are still within touching distance of the European spots, but they have yet to replicate their form from when Niko Kovac was first unveiled as their new head coach late last year.

When Kovac took over, VfL Wolfsburg went on a 10-game undefeated run that included six consecutive victories. But since losing to Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 at the start of February, the Wolves have had growing pains, winning only once in their last five games.

The Wolves have improved in the final third, scoring four goals in their last two games, but it’s their defence that will be put to the test on Saturday, as Maximilian Arnold, Maxence Lacroix, and Bartol Franjic are not available.

Arnold is Wolfsburg’s captain, operating as their No. 6, while Lacroix has been their top centre-back option this term, and Franjic is another young and energetic defender.

On the other side of the pitch, Omar Marmoush is expected to lead the line once more, but he hasn’t scored since late January in their 5-0 demolition of Hertha Berlin, which is a concern.

This season, Yannick Gerhardt has emerged as their leading scorer with six goals. Six of his eight total goal involvements have come in 2023, so Union Berlin’s backline has to slow him down.

Union Berlin’s packed schedule

Die Eisernen are currently competing on three fronts so their schedule is hectic, although they wouldn’t have it any other way.

They weren’t in this position a few years ago when they were just promoted to Germany’s top tier, so this means that they have come a long way since then.

Union Berlin are fresh from a 3-3 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 tie, which probably took a lot out of them.

Josip Juranovic, Robin Knoche, and Sven Michel all found the back of the net in the said game, and they are going to play heavy minutes once again.

Like VfL Wolfsburg, Union Berlin’s forwards Kevin Behrens and Sheraldo Becker have yet to score in more than a month now, so Urs Fischer is hoping that they’ll regain the scoring form for them to end their winless drought.

History

The Wolves have beaten Die Eisernen in three consecutive Bundesliga home games (1-0, 3-0, and 1-0). Union Berlin have also yet to score away at VfL Wolfsburg, making them the second team, alongside Ingolstadt, that the Wolves have faced in the German top-flight without ever conceding.

But so far this season, Union Berlin have already defeated VfL Wolfsburg twice.

Urs Fischer’s side won 2-1 in their reverse Bundesliga fixture, as Theoson Siebatcheu and Sheraldo Becker scored. And last month, Union Berlin eliminated VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal Round of 16 with a 2-1 tally, as Robin Knoche and Kevin Behrens netted for Die Eisernen while Luca Waldschmidt scored for the Wolves.

Yannick Gerhardt is set to make his 200^th appearance for them. The German midfielder joined the Wolves from Koln back in 2016.

Betting Tip

The Bundesliga 2023 odds predict a tight contest between VfL Wolfsburg and Union Berlin. The hosts were given a slight advantage at 2.25, while the visitors were installed at 2.94, and a draw was at 3.15 in the 1X2 market.

Despite beating the Wolves twice already this season, Die Eisernen are expected to have a hard time at the Volkswagen Arena this weekend, although they can break their losing streak against them this Saturday. Picking a winner from this game may be a tough choice, but we’re sure that we’re going to see goals from this contest, making Total Goal 2-3 at 1.92 your best bet.

 

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