By Ben Sully @SullyBen
Union Berlin will attempt to claim a third consecutive Bundesliga victory when they play host to RB Leipzig on Sunday.
| Photo: 1. FC Union Berlin |
Union Berlin
Union have enjoyed a positive start to the season, which began with a 4-0 victory over Astoria Walldorf in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Urs Fischer’s free-scoring side have gone on to rack up four goals in both of their opening league matches against Mainz and Darmstadt.
After thrashing die Nullfünfer 4-1 on home turf, Union repeated the sizable scoreline when they made the trip to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor last weekend. Robin Gosens opened the scoring for die Eisernen, before Brenden Aaronson was shown a red card for his second bookable offence. Despite seeing their lead cut out by Marvin Mehlem’s 24th-minute strike, the 10 men of Union managed to claim a comfortable victory after a second goal from Gosens was followed by efforts from Kevin Behrens and Danilo Doekhi.
Union will now return home to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, where they are unbeaten in 24 league matches — a run that stretches back to February 2022. The hosts have also won their last three competitive home meetings with Leipzig, and they will move level on points with Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the Bundesliga table if they can record another victory on Sunday.
Team News
The hosts are unable to call upon the services of Sheraldo Becker, Laurenz Dehl, Rani Khedira, András Schäfer and Lucas Tousart. After being sent off last weekend, Aaronson will miss out through suspension.
RB Leipzig
After beginning the season with an impressive 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the DFL-Super Cup, Leipzig were brought down to earth in their league opener against Leverkusen, as they fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat.
However, die Roten Bullen bounced back in style last weekend, producing a dominant display to clinch a 5-1 victory over Stuttgart. Marco Rose’s side trailed at the break, but second-half strikes from Benjamin Henrichs, Dani Olmo, Loïs Openda, Kevin Kampl and Xavi Simons helped Leipzig ease to all three points, representing their fifth consecutive home victory in the Bundesliga.
Leipzig will now head on their travels, and they will be looking to improve upon their recent head-to-head record against Union. Die Roten Bullen are hoping to clinch their first league win over die Eisernen since January 2021, while their most recent away victory against Union took place in August 2019 when they cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win.
Team News
Peter Gulacsi and El Chadaille Bitshiabu remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Amadou Haidara is ruled out due to a calf problem.