Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Wolfsburg have underwhelmed at the start of this season with Ralph Hasenhuttl looking to get to grips with his pressing style yet to get to grips as they now take on Union Berlin at the Volkswagen Arena this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 23rd November, 2024: UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Wolfsburg Preview: Weary Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg begin the 11th match day of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season sitting in the bottom-half after an underwhelming opening few months to this campaign. Former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl remains in charge of the Lower Saxony-based club but he has come under pressure over the November international break.
‘The Wolves’ did head into the break on the back of their third Bundesliga win of the campaign a couple of weeks ago as they defeated Heidenheim by three goals to one a couple of weeks ago. That impressive victory at the Voith-Arena means they have suffered just one defeat in their last seven matches across all competitions.
Union Berlin Preview: Reunified Union
The story of Union Berlin has been a remarkable one over the last few years as they have risen to the Bundesliga for the first time ever and then through the UEFA Europa Conference League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Champions League in the last half a decade. They regressed massively last year and lost their identity but appear to have rediscovered that grit that made them special.
They begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting tucked inside the top six after just two defeats in their opening ten matches of the Bundesliga campaign. The capital city club come into this one on the back of a goalless draw with fellow re-established high flyers Freiburg in their most recent outing a couple of weeks ago.
Wolfsburg Team News: Key absentees
The home team have several injury issues for this weekend’s clash with Union such as key players like Joakim Maehle, Lovro Majer and Aster Vranckx.
As well as those three key first-teamers, Wolfsburg are also without Rogerio, Niklas Klinger, Kevin Paredes and Bartosz Bialek for this weekend’s clash.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Grabara; Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Zesiger; Baku, Dardai, Arnold, Gerhardt, Amoura; Wimmer
Unavailable: Paredes (Injured), Bialek (Injured), Klinger (Injured), Maehle (Injured), Majer (Injured), Vranckx (Injured), Rogerio (Injured)
Questionable:
Union Berlin Team News: No Schwolow
Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow is absent for this weekend alongside the likes of Andrej Ilic, Tim Routhe and Yannic Stein, dealing with a shoulder injury.
They have a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s clash against Union so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Diogo Leite; Trimmel, Kemlein, Khedira, Skov; Jeong, Vertessen; Hollerbach
Unavailable: Schwolow (Illness), Stein (Injured), Ilic (Injured), Rohl (Injured)
Questionable:
Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin Prediction
Wolfsburg are a bit chaotic on the pitch. They haven’t been as free scoring as that word would suggest but they do have a lack of general cohesion and organisation that make them worth watching. Union Berlin have recaptured what made them rise so high with a defensive rigidity that is difficult to break down. Wolfsburg may go for the jugular but Union are well worth a value bet to be calm and composed and see off their opposition.
Wolfsburg vs Union Berlin Tip: Double chance – Union Berlin to win or draw