Union Berlin vs St. Pauli prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2024-08-29 18:30.
[p]It was a positive weekend for Union Berlin, who avoided defeat in their opening match for the fourth consecutive Bundesliga season (W2, D2), coming back at Mainz to draw 1-1. Strangely, that was the first time they’ve ever started a top-flight season away from home, and after narrowly missing relegation last season after their worst ever placing in the division (15th), they’ll hope to have a calmer campaign this time around in their sixth straight season in Germany’s top flight. [/p]
[p]Union’s new coach Bo Svensson was vocal in praising his side’s comeback in the last round but will be pleased to return to Stadion An der Alten Försterei where they have won their last two home season openers. St. Pauli are the visitors to this part of Berlin on Friday night, which could aid the hosts in their pursuit of three points, as Union are yet to lose in the Bundesliga against a newly-promoted team at home (W7, D3), while they are unbeaten against the visitors across the last eight home H2Hs (W7, D1).  [/p]
[p]Contrastingly, it was a tough opener for St. Pauli, who started the ninth Bundesliga season in their history with a 2-0 home loss to Heidenheim to mark just the third time they have started a top-flight season with defeat. The Hamburg-based team actually have a fairly decent record from their opening Bundesliga away game of the season (W4, D2, L2) and they’ve not lost on the second matchday at any venue over the last four years in division 2 (W2, D2).[/p]
[p]St Pauli also have a new coach of their own in Alexander Blessin, who said that he saw many positives in the defeat last week. They’ll need all the positives they can get to avoid a swift return to the second tier just like in their last stint in the top flight in 2010/11, but a trip to Union – with that poor away H2H record in tow – doesn’t offer much hope of finding their first win in the Bundesliga since February 16th, 2011 (D1, L12 since).   [/p]
[p]Players to watch: László Bénes scored the equaliser in his first Bundesliga game for new club Union, after netting 19 times in the last two seasons in the second division for HSV, alongside 20 assists. But watch out for St Pauli loanee Morgan Guilavogui, who scored two top-flight goals for RC Lens last season, and assisted during St. Pauli’s recent win in the DFB-Pokal cup prior to their league defeat. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: There has been only one goalless draw in the 20 Bundesliga H2Hs across the top two tiers this century, with this matchup in that time producing 3.3 goals on average![/p]
[p][i]Written by Daniel vom Bruch[/i][/p]