Union Berlin vs RB Leipzig prediction: GERMANY: Bundesliga betting tips on match 2023-09-02 15:30.
Union Berlin have improved every season after their initial promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019, and having started off this league campaign with a pair of 4-1 victories that each saw them net within five minutes, the Iron Ones could go into the September international break with a perfect Bundesliga record for the first time ever.
Union – who found out in midweek they will share a UEFA Champions League group with Napoli, Real Madrid and Braga – remarkably made it 24 home league games unbeaten with victory over Mainz on matchday one (W16, D8). And any repeat of Kevin Behrens’ early strike vs Mainz has every chance of proving decisive, with Union still being beaten just once whenever they have netted first in a Bundesliga home game (W32, D12).
As for RB Leipzig, they rebounded quickly from their disappointing curtain raiser against Bayer Leverkusen (L 2-3), with a come-from-behind 5-1 victory over Stuttgart. And while that marked a fourth league win in five for the Red Bulls, the lack of a clean sheet across that same group of matches raises concerns over the integrity of Leipzig’s backline.
Whether or not Marco Rose’s men can address those defensive issues, they’d still be disappointed to leave empty handed, having won half of their previous ten Bundesliga away games (W5, D1, L4). However, their current run of three straight losing games on Union’s turf is a concern, with each contributing to a curious streak where the previous six H2Hs have all produced a 2-1 scoreline!
Players to watch: Behrens is looking to make it a three-game scoring start to 2023/24 for Union Berlin, after following up on his day one hat-trick with a goal last vs Darmstadt last weekend. All four of his goals this term have come via headers! Leipzig striker LoĂŻs Openda was third amongst the scorers against Stuttgart, though a majority (four) of his six most recent strikes have still come last overall on the day.
Hot streak: Union Berlin have netted on or beyond the 80th minute in each of their previous three home league wins.