In what could prove to be a crucial battle for the Bundesliga's European qualification spots, Union Berlin are set to host Freiburg on Friday at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
The home team are seventh with 15 points from nine league games, one point and one place from their opponents Freiburg, who drew 0-0 with Mainz 05 last time out in the Bundesliga on November 3 and occupy the division's only Conference League qualification spot.
Match preview
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Union Berlin lost for the first time in four Bundesliga games when they were defeated 3-0 by Bayern Munich on November 2, a game in which the Bavarians managed to produce 2.51 xG, 16 shots and three big chances.
While losing to Vincent Kompany's Bayern is by no means a disastrous result given the quality of players the German giants possess, Schlosserjungs boss Bo Svensson will be frustrated that his team were eliminated from the second round of the DFB-Pokal on October 30 when they lost 2-0 against third-tier side Arminia Bielefeld.
Svensson's side have been poor offensively this term considering they have only scored nine goals, the joint second-worst figure in the league, but to their credit they boast the top flight's third-best defensive record having conceded just eight times.
The hosts have prevailed in just one of their last four fixtures, losing twice and drawing once, though they did win four of their prior seven.
Union Berlin's recent league results have been somewhat more positive as they have earned two victories from their four most recent outings, and their home record has been strong of late given they have triumphed in four of their last five league games at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
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As for the visitors, they were restricted to just two shots on target against Mainz, their second-fewest attempts on target in a Bundesliga game this season.
Manager Julian Schuster said that while his team failed to create much in the final third, he was pleased that his players were at least able to prevent Mainz from having many opportunities of their own.
Interestingly, Breisgau-Brasilianer's draw was their first of the season having won seven and lost three of their previous 10 games in 2024-25.
Schuster's side progressed to the third round of the DFB-Pokal when they beat Hamburger SV 2-1 in late October, with their victory being the seventh time they have scored at least two goals in a game this term.
Freiburg have kept just two clean sheets in their six most recent matches and have lost two, won three and drew one in that period.
The visitors were beaten 3-1 by RB Leipzig in their last away match on October 26, but it should be noted that they emerged as victors in three of their prior four matches on the road.
Team News
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Union Berlin have relatively few injury concerns to contend with, though right-back Josip Juranovic and goalkeeper Yannic Stein will be out until later in November.
Frederik Ronnow is certain to start in goal, and he could be shielded by a back three featuring Danilho Doekhi, Kevin Vogt and Diogo Leite.
Midfielder Lucas Tousart is a doubt and if Friday's game comes too soon, Svensson may name a double pivot consisting of Aljoscha Kemlein and Rani Khedira.
Meanwhile, Freiburg will be without defenders Jordy Makengo, Kenneth Schmidt and Manuel Gulde, and they could field a defensive line of Lukas Kubler, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart and Christian Gunter.
Midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh is not scheduled to return until late November, so perhaps Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage will partner each other in the centre of the pitch.
Attacker Merlin Rohl has also been ruled out, so expect Ritsu Doan, Eren Dinkci and Vincenzo Grifo to start behind striker Chukwubuike Adamu.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Trimmel, Kemlein, Khedira, Rothe; Jeong, Jordan, Vertessen
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Osterhage; Doan, Dinkci, Grifo; Adamu
We say: Union Berlin 0-1 Freiburg
Union Berlin have struggled for goals this season, and it is difficult to see how they could get back into the game were they to concede first.
Despite their loss against RB Leipzig, Freiburg have a good away record this season, and it would not be surprising if they emerged victorious on Friday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
