Union Berlin vs Vfl Wolfsburg Match Analysis & Prediction
31/01/2023 10:45 pm
Two of the Bundesliga’s most in-form sides go head-to-head in the last 16 of the DFB Pokal when Union Berlin play host to Vfl Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
While the hosts have never won Germany’s primary domestic cup, their hosts’ only triumph in the competition came in the 2014-15 season.
Having only earned promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history in 2019, it is perhaps no surprise that Union Berlin have never succeeded in the DFB Pokal.
However, they did manage to impressively reach the final as a third tier side in the 2000-01 season, when they were beaten 2-0 by Schalke 04.
Things have changed in the following two decades since, with Schalke now sitting rock-bottom of the Bundesliga while Union Berlin continue to fly high under the tutelage of Urs Fischer, with their fifth consecutive derby victory over Hertha Berlin on Saturday moving them within one point of league leaders Bayern Munich.
With a Europa League last-32 tie with Ajax awaiting them in February, Fischer may be torn about adding another competition to the mix after missing out on Champions League qualification by a single point last season.
However, they were also one game away from reaching only their second ever DFB-Pokal final, so the 56-year-old will surely be determined to see his team capitalise on their fine form and progress deep into the latter stages of the competition once again.
Although they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Werder Bremen at the weekend, Wolfsburg are likely to take some stopping at Stadion An der Forsterei on Tuesday.
The defeat ended Wolfsburg’s unbeaten run of 10 league matches, which has turned around a slow start under Niko Kovac to put them firmly in contention to secure a European qualification spot come the end of the season should they continue their recent form.
Having been thrown out of the DFB Pokal last season for using too may substitutes during their 3-1 victory over fourth-tier side Preussen Munster, Kovac may sence the chance to secure a permanent legacy at his new home with a deep run in the cup.
Unlike their hosts, Wolfsburg do not have the distraction of European football to contend with this season, so there is no reason at all for Kovac and his players not to throw everything at this tie.
Union Berlin vs. Vfl Wolfsburg Head to head
In the nine previous meetings between these two teams, they have each claimed three victories while they have drawn in three. Union Berlin have scored 12 goals and conceded 11 in the process.
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09/01/2021Union Berlin2Wolfsburg2Bundesliga
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08/05/2021Wolfsburg3Union Berlin0Bundesliga
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16/10/2021Union Berlin2Wolfsburg0Bundesliga
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05/03/2022Wolfsburg1Union Berlin0Bundesliga
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18/09/2022Union Berlin2Wolfsburg0Bundesliga
Union Berlin Team News
Union Berlin will be without midfielders Andras Schafer and Morten Thorsby due to ankle and abdominal injuries respectively, but otherwise Fischer has a fully fit squad to utilise.
Jordan Siebatcheu has been named among the substitutes in each of his side’s recent two victories after enduring a goalscoring drought in recent times, but he should earn an opportunity from the start here.
Union Berlin's Last 5 Matches
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07/01/2023Union Berlin4Augsburg1Club Friendlies
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14/01/2023Union Berlin3Zilina1Club Friendlies
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21/01/2023Union Berlin3Hoffenheim1Bundesliga
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25/01/2023Werder Bremen1Union Berlin2Bundesliga
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28/01/2023Hertha Berlin0Union Berlin2Bundesliga
Vfl Wolfsburg Team News
Wolfsburg will travel without Felix Nmecha and Lukas Nmecha due to thigh and knee injuries respectively, which are keeping the two brothers sidelined at the moment.
Joshua Guilavogui and Maxence Lacroix are two players likely to be called upon from the start for the visitors.
Vfl Wolfsburg's Last 5 Matches
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14/01/2023Augsburg0Wolfsburg4Club Friendlies
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14/01/2023Augsburg1Wolfsburg0Club Friendlies
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21/01/2023Wolfsburg6Freiburg0Bundesliga
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24/01/2023Hertha Berlin0Wolfsburg5Bundesliga
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28/01/2023Werder Bremen2Wolfsburg1Bundesliga
Union Berlin vs. Vfl Wolfsburg: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Union Berlin or X
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