Defending champions Leverkusen will play Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Försterei this Saturday. The hosts have failed to win any of their last five matches. Their visitors, Leverkusen, arrive with a mixed record of two wins, two draws, and one loss in the same period. Can they inflict further pain on Union Berlin?
Our match guide has all your key insights, including expert betting tips for Nigerian Bettors.
Union Berlin-Leverkusen Head-to-Head Analysis
| General Details | Union Berlin Lineup (Predicted) | Leverkusen Lineup (Predicted) |
|---|---|---|
| Date: 30/11/2024 Time: 15:30 Stadium: An der Alten Försterei Where to watch: StarTimes | Danilho Doekhi Diogo Leite Kevin Vogt Yorbe Vertessen Rani Khedira Theoson Siebatcheu Janik Haberer Robert Skov Christopher Trimmel Aljoscha Kemlein Frederik Rønnow | Piero Hincapié Jonathan Tah Robert Andrich Florian Wirtz Edmond Tapsoba Patrik Schick Álex Grimaldo Exequiel Palacios Jeremie Frimpong Granit Xhaka Matěj Kovář |
Historic Performances
Previous records of this encounter offer the opportunity to use the past to analyse the future. This helps us gather suitable trends and patterns to suggest how the match may pan out for the upcoming clash. In the following section, we review the past meetings between these two sides.
Recent Encounters
Union Berlin has not won this fixture in its past five attempts. Leverkusen has won three of those matches, with two draws and a cumulative 12 goals scored.
These records show that Leverkusen has a historical advantage over their opponent. Therefore, the visitor is likely to dominate Union Berlin once again and claim all three points.
Key Factors Influencing the Match
After dissecting their previous meetings in all competitions, let’s discuss how both teams had fared in each of their previous matches this season. We will also explore the possibility of how their recent performance can impact the result of the upcoming game.
Previous Match
Despite sitting sixth in the Bundesliga table, the international break came at a crucial time for Union Berlin, as Bo Svensson’s side had been struggling for form. Since defeating newly promoted Holstein Kiel on October 20, they have gone winless in four league matches and one cup fixture.
Their struggles persisted after the break, suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Wolfsburg. Now, they face the daunting task of hosting defending champions Leverkusen and must find a way back to winning ways.
For Leverkusen, the international break also offered a chance to reset after a string of inconsistent results. Xabi Alonso’s team had drawn their three previous Bundesliga matches, including a frustrating 1-1 draw with Bochum, where they led from the 18th minute but conceded a late equaliser in the 89th.
However, they bounced back emphatically with a 5-2 victory over Heidenheim last weekend, climbing to fourth in the table with 20 points.
Defensively, Leverkusen have shown improvement, keeping five clean sheets in their 18 games this season. While this mirrors their defensive record after 11 matches last season, they will take confidence from their strong track record against Union Berlin, remaining unbeaten in this matchup since January 2021. We expect Leverkusen to get an away victory in this match and probably climb up the table.
Players
Tom Rothe and Hollerbach currently lead Union Berlin’s scoring chart this season with two goals each, and their contributions will be pivotal in this clash. However, Union faces injury concerns as Tom Rothe and Lucas Tousart remain doubtful due to muscle issues. Andrej Ilic, Josip Juranovic, and Yannic Stein are expected to miss the match.
Yorbe Vertessen and Robert Skov have combined to create five clear-cut chances this season, and their creativity could prove valuable in breaking down Leverkusen’s defence.
For Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz enters this game in stellar form, poised to make a decisive impact. His playmaking brilliance and attacking threat are significant assets for the defending champions. So far this season, Wirtz has netted seven goals and provided two assists across all competitions.
In terms of availability, Leverkusen will be without forward Amine Adli, who was sidelined until March 2025 with a broken leg. Defensively, Jeanuel Belocian and Nordi Mukiele are ruled out until early December.
Home Advantage
Union Berlin remains unbeaten at home this season. They’ve won three of their past home fixtures and drawn the remaining two. Leverkusen has not lost any Bundesliga game away from home this season, which makes this an intriguing match for the weekend. It will be a massive test for Union Berlin to hold their unbeaten home record against the reigning champion. So, we expect Leverkusen to win the game.
Betting Tips
Based on their previous meetings and crucial stats, here are valuable betting tips for Nigerian Bettors ahead of the Union Berlin vs. Leverkusen encounter:
Betting Odds
The latest odds from bookmakers for the match are as follows:
Union Berlin to Win – 4.33 | Draw – 3.60 | Leverkusen to Win – 1.75
The odds on bookies indicate that Union Berlin is an underdog to win at home. This makes Leverkusen a strong favourite for an away victory. Therefore, Leverkusen has a strong advantage to win the match due to its superior squad, great form, and historical records in this fixture.
Final Thoughts on the Match
Leverkusen is nine points behind its rival, Bayern Munich, and can’t afford to miss any more essential points to close the gap. Considering their recent excellent form and better records in this fixture, we expect them to claim all points this weekend and stay in contention to defend their title.
Samuel Okunsolawo is an iGaming expert with over six years of experience in content writing. His passion for simplifying complex concepts makes his articles accessible and useful for beginners and experts alike. With a focus on sports betting trends and reliable betting sites, Samuel’s articles are an excellent resource for those seeking guidance and staying up to date in the world of iGaming.