Union Berlin vs Freiburg prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-05-12 13:30.
Despite both losing 1-0 at the weekend, Union Berlin and Freiburg are now guaranteed some kind of European action in 2023/24, but they may not be happy to settle for anything less than an inaugural UEFA Champions League (UCL) appearance to cap off their momentous campaigns. Starting this round level on points (fourth and fifth respectively at the time), this meeting could be decisive in determining which side (if not both) will take one of Germany’s four UCL group stage spots.
Union Berlin have been susceptible to some patchy periods throughout the season – understandably so in their fourth ever top-flight campaign – and the woes of winning just one of their last five Bundesliga games (W1, D2, L2) are not new. They can probably bank on at least one point courtesy of their unbeaten Bundesliga home record (W9, D6), but flipping their 4-1 loss away to Freiburg in November appears unlikely having not scored 4+ goals in any of their last 27 league outings.
Despite proudly declaring his players “left it all on the field”, Freiburg manager Christian Streich suffered the bitter taste of defeat at home to Leipzig twice in five days, the first of which (5-1) knocked them out of the DFB-Pokal whilst the second propelled Leipzig into third place in the standings. After losing all six league contests against the current top-three teams, Freiburg can’t claim to be deserving of anything better than fourth.
But their W16, D8, L1 Bundesliga record against the remainder of the league should serve them well in this do-or-die affair, particularly when that includes the Bundesliga’s second-longest active undefeated run in away trips (W3, D2). Freiburg’s defending has been the bedrock of their success, and their current streak of 12 league games with no more than one goal conceded will further add to Union’s challenge.
Players to watch: Union’s last league goal came from the right boot of Sheraldo Becker, who has an unbeaten W7, D2 record in all 2022/23 competitions when scoring. Eclipsing that is Freiburg striker Vincenzo Grifo (W9, D2 when scoring in any competition), who blew Union out of the water with a first half hat-trick in the reverse H2H.
Hot streak: The visiting side on the day has not scored before half-time in any of the last 21 Bundesliga games involving either team.