Union Berlin will play hosts for Hoffenheim on Saturday at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, as they they continue the second half of the season pushing for European places.
The hosts are currently sitting sixth on the table, level on points with FC Koln, while Hoffenheim will be keen to affirm their position in the Champions League positions.
Union Berlin will be keen to maintain their continental status heading into next season, as they have competed in Europe for the first time since 2001-02.
They failed to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League, and now their main focus will be on Bundeslga, where they begin the new year in a strong position.
They have now been unbeaten in eight of their previous 10 competitive outings, having picked up a point away at Bayer Leverkusen in their first match of the calender year.
Much of Union Berlin’s strong form for the season has been down to performances at home, having collected 18 points at home compared to 10 on the road.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim will be heading to the capital looking to spoil that impressive home record, as they target a place in the 2022-23 Champions League.
Just like their hosts, Hoffenheim have also found it difficult to record good results away from home, having picked up just four points on the road.
Hoffenheim have been winless in their previous two Bundesliga away game, and will be looking to put an end to a run of three matches against Union Berlin, dating back to their 4-0 victory in June 2020.
Union Berlin have in the recent meetings enjoyed somewhat of an upper hand and dorminance, having gone unbeaten in the previous three encounters, while they have scored six goals compared to Hoffenheim’s four during that period of time.
Union Berlin vs Hoffenheim head to head
The two teams have previously met on five occasions in the Bundesliga, with Hoffenheim having taken 2 victories while Union Berlin have won once, and they have drawn in two. Hoffenheim have scored 10 goals and conceded 6. The draws came in their two most recent matches in 2021.
Union Berlin 0-2 Hoffenheim 17/12/19
Hoffenheim 4-0 Union Berlin 20/06/20
Hoffenheim 1-3 Union Berlin 02/11/20
Union Berlin 1-1 Hoffenheim 28/02/21
Hoffenheim 2-2 Union Berlin 22/08/21
Union Berlin latest home form
Union Berlin have recently been on a good form at home, having been unbeaten in their last four matches. Their last home defeat came on November 4 when they lost 2-1 to Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League. In their last five, they have won two, drawn two and lost one.
Union Berlin 1-2 Feyenoord 04/11/21
Union Berlin 2-0 Hertha Berlin 20/11/21
Union Berlin 2-1 RB Leipzig 03/12/21
Union Berlin 1-1 Slavia Prague 09/12/21
Union Berlin 0-0 Freiburg 15/12/21
Union Berlin latest away form
Union Berlin have recently been on a relatively good form on the road, having lost just two of their last eight matches. They have defeated Bochum 1-0 and drew 2-2 with Bayer Leverkusen in their last two away matches. They have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five.
Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Union Berlin 25/11/21
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Union Berlin 28/11/21
Greuther Furth 1-0 Union Berlin 12/12/21
Bochum 0-1 Union Berlin 18/12/21
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Union Berlin 08/01/22
Hoffenheim latest home form
Hoffenheim have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have not lost in any of their last eight matches. They defeated Augsburg 3-1 in their last match at home. In their last five matches, they have won four and drawn in one in the process.
Hoffenheim 2-0 Hertha Berlin 29/10/21
Hoffenheim 2-0 RB Leipzig 20/11/21
Hoffenheim 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt 04/12/21
Hoffenheim 1-1 Borussia M’gladbach 18/12/21
Hoffenheim 3-1 Augsburg 08/01/22
Hoffenheim latest away form
Hoffenheim have been on a poor form on the road, but have recently shown some improvement having not lost in their last three matches. Their last away defeat came on November 6 when they lost 2-0 to Bochum. They have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five.
Bayern Munich 4-0 Hoffenheim 23/10/21
Bochum 2-0 Hoffenheim 06/11/21
Greuther Furth 3-6 Hoffenheim 27/11/21
Freiburg 1-2 Hoffenheim 11/12/21
Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Hoffenheim 15/12/21
Union Berlin news
Union Berlin will be missing Taiwo Awoniyi who competes at the African Cup of Nations, while Pawel Wszolek, Sheraldo Becker and Laurenz Dehl will sit out with Covid infection.
Max Kruse will once again feature as he looks to add to his three goals and four assists for the season.
Hoffenheim news
Diadie Samassekou is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Pavel Kaderabek will be missing with a hip problem, with Marco John unlikely to feature due to a knock.
Florian Grillitsch and Kasim Adams will miss out through illness, as Robert Skov continues to recover from a thigh problem.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams will enter the contest on a strong form, but Union Berlin would want to use their home advantage to improve their European hopes.
However, Hoffenheim have recently improved their form on the road, and we see them have that confidence to overwhelme their hosts to take the victory.
Odds: 1 2.80 X 3.05 2 2.35
Probable outcomes
Union Berlin 0-1 Hoffenheim
Union Berlin 1-2 Hoffenheim
Union Berlin 2-3 Hoffenheim
Union Berlin 1-1 Hoffenheim
Union Berlin 2-2 Hoffenheim
