Union Berlin vs RB Leipzig prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2022-08-19 16:30.
Since making their maiden Bundesliga appearance back in 2019/20, Union Berlin have captured the imagination by securing unlikely back-to-back European group-stage appearances. Add to that their unbeaten two-game start to the 2022/23 league campaign (W1, D1), and the Iron Ones appear to be riding the crest of a wave as they welcome last season’s DFB-Pokal winners, RB Leipzig.
This game will by no means be a walk in the park, although with a current three-game winning run against Leipzig, Union can match their best ever Bundesliga winning run against a specific opponent with another here. With history already being made thanks to Union’s current club record nine unbeaten Bundesliga games (W7, D2), things are looking up even without last season’s 15-goal man Taiwo Awoniyi.
In stark contrast to their hosts, Leipzig have failed to win their opening three competitive games for the very first time as a professional football club. There are similarities between these two sides, with Leipzig also enjoying a meteoric rise to the top, yet they have only featured in the German professional leagues since 2013/14 following their 2009 foundation.
The Red Bulls are favoured by the bookmakers to avoid a third straight Bundesliga failure to open a season for the first time ever, yet a feeble return of four wins across their last 15 away league games entered as favourites is unlikely to inspire confidence (W4, D6, L5). That’s not to mention that Leipzig will be without influential attacker Dominik Szoboszlai following his red card last time out.
Key battle: New signing Jordan Siebatcheu built on his 27-goal haul for Swiss club Young Boys last term by scoring Union’s opening goal in his first two appearances for the club. Trying to thwart him will be Leipzig keeper Péter Gulácsi who is set to become the first player to reach 200 Bundesliga appearances for the club, keeping a league-high 64 clean sheets during that time.
Hot stat: The side that scored first went on to lose four of the last six H2Hs.