Union Berlin vs Hoffenheim Preview: Team News & Prediction

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These two sides have started the 2025/26 Bundesliga season with a victory and a defeat in their opening two matches as Union Berlin face Hoffenheim in the capital city.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+

Union Berlin preview: Win and a loss

On the opening day of the campaign, Union Berlin backed up their 5-0 DFB-Pokal first round victory against Gutersloh by defeating Stuttgart by two goals to one at the Alten Forsterei, courtesy of a brace scored by attacker Ilyas Ansah.

Since then, though, Union have suffered a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. Serhou Guirassy notched a brace in that game, before Felix Nmecha also scored mid-way through the second-half.

Hoffenheim preview: Win and a loss

Hoffenheim, under the management of former Sturm Graz boss Christian Ilzer, managed to eventually steer themselves clear of the bottom three and the danger zone after a very underwhelming campaign throughout the Bundesliga season.

The Kraichgauers, as they are nicknamed, started their season by springing a surprise with a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena, before they then suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Eintracht Frankfurt at the PreZero Arena.

Union Berlin team news: Defensive doubts

Union Berlin have a couple of defensive injury doubts for this one, such as Portuguese centre-back Diogo Leite and Croatia international full-back Josip Juranovic, formerly of Celtic.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Rothe; Trimmel, Kral, Khedira, Haberer, Skov; Ansah, Ilic

Unavailable: Burcu (Injured)

Questionable: Leite (Injured), Juranovic (Injured)

Hoffenheim team news: Burger a doubt

Former Stoke City midfielder Wouter Burger is a doubt for this weekend, and they also have confirmed key absentees, such as defenders Valentin Gendrey and Koki Machida, as well as Czechia international striker Adam Hlozek.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Baumann; Coufal, Hranac, Chaves, Bernardo; Kramaric, Avdullahu, Tohumcu; Lemperle, Asllani, Toure

Unavailable: Gendrey (Injured), Machida (Injured), Hlozek (Injured)

Questionable: Burger (Injured)

Union Berlin vs Hoffenheim prediction

Union Berlin have been one of the big overperformers and overachievers in the Bundesliga. Their success has been built on solid defensive foundations, which should give them the edge over a Hoffenheim side that, coached by Ilzer, constantly try and play with attacking intent, perhaps best shown by Kramaric sitting in midfield, and so Union should be favoured to edge through this one.

Union Berlin vs Hoffenheim tip: Double chance – Union Berlin to win or draw