Union Berlin vs SC Freiburg
The battle for the European slots is already heating up, even if we’re just entering the 10th matchday of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, as 10 teams are trying to sneak into the Top 4.
Two of them are SC Freiburg and Union Berlin, who are occupying the sixth and seventh spots, respectively, and are separated by only one point.
Union Berlin and SC Freiburg have endured a lacklustre stretch of Bundesliga 2024 results, as both sides dropped points in two consecutive matchdays. After experiencing a two-game winning streak in mid-September, these two teams suffered a loss and a draw.
With at least five teams above them, getting as many points as they can is imperative, so both teams are expected to bring their A-game when they head to Alte Forsterei this Friday.
Which team do you think will win this one? Continue reading below for today’s SBOTOP match preview.
Talking Points
Union Berlin lack ammunition
It’s been a rough stretch for Bo Svensson’s men after they beat Holstein Kiel 2-0 three weeks ago, and their lack of goals has been the main culprit.
After Benedict Hollerbach scored once to hold Eintracht Frankfurt to a 1-1 draw, Die Eisernen failed to find the back of the net against Arminia Bielefeld and Bayern Munich in their next two matches, giving them back-to-back losses.
While the defeat against Bayern Munich (3-0) was expected, the 2-0 result against Arminia Bielefeld is particularly disappointing since it meant that a club from the third division ended their DFB-Pokal run prematurely.
Benedict Hollerbach and Tom Rothe are Die Eisernen’s top scorers with two league goals each, with the latter also having an assist. Kevin Vogt, Yorbe Vertessen, Jeong Woo-Yeong, Laszlo Benes, and Aljoscha Kemlein also have one league goal each.
Rothe didn’t play against Bayern Munich last time out due to tactical reasons, according to Bo Svensson, so look for the young wing-back to try and assert himself on Friday.
Josip Juranovic, Lucas Tousart, and Yannic Stein are some of the notable absentees ahead of this weekend’s contest due to injuries.
Doan heating up for SC Freiburg
In contrast, Julian Schuster’s men have found no trouble finding the back of the net, even during their mini-slump, save for their goalless draw against Mainz.
The Black Forest have one of the most underrated frontlines in the Bundesliga that consists of Ritsu Doan, Vincenzo Grifo, Eren Dinkci, and Junior Adamu.
Lukas Kubler, Christian Gunter, and Philipp Lienhart have also scored one league goal each, while Lucas Holer and Kiliann Sildillia have notched one assist each.
The standout performer for SC Freiburg has been their Japanese sensation, Ritsu Doan, as the speedy winger already has four league goals and one assist. He has been so good that he has been linked with a move away from his current club ahead of the winter transfer window.
While it may be tempting for SC Freiburg to cash in on Doan, sporting director Jochen Saier said he doesn’t have plans to offload him because of his importance in the squad.
History
Union Berlin avoided catastrophe and maintained their German top-flight status when they won 2-1 in this exact fixture last May. After Ritsu Doan scored the equaliser in the 85th minute to nullify Benedict Hollerbach’s goal, Janik Haberer came to the rescue and scored the winning goal in added time to end their 2023-24 campaign with a bang.
Die Eisernen are still undefeated at home against the Black Forest here in the Bundesliga (W3, D2), and Friday marks their 17th meeting in all competitions.
Bo Svensson’s side are unbeaten at home not only against SC Freiburg but also in the whole Bundesliga this season (W3, D1). Recording 10 points (and three wins) from their first four home games is their joint-best start to a top-flight campaign.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2024 odds predict a tight encounter between Union Berlin and SC Freiburg at Alte Forsterei this weekend. Because they’re playing in front of their home crowd, Union Berlin have the slight edge at 2.34, while SC Freiburg are not far behind at 2.87 in the 1X2 market.
While it is tempting to go for a draw at 3.07, we will instead go for our recommended bet above since Julian Schuster’s side is stronger, at least on paper. Given the trend of their most recent meetings, we’re also inclined to recommend also going for options like Total Goals 2-3 at 1.97, Over 2.00 at 1.68, Over 2.25 at 1.98, and Over 2.50 at 2.29.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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