Union Berlin - St. Pauli

Union Berlin to pick up second win

TEAM NEWS

Union Berlin could once again be without the long-term injured Fabian Schonheim and Sebastian Polter.

Both Jan-Philipp Kalla and Marc Hornschuh, who has already missed the two first games of the season, remain injury concerns for Markus Kauczinski’s St. Pauli. Christopher Buchtmann has problems with his hand and is a doubt for the encounter in Berlin.

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Fabian Schonheim (knee), Sebastian Polter (Achilles)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Christopher Buchtmann (hand)

Injured/unavailable: Jan-Philipp Kalla (pubis), Marc Hornschuh (slipped disc)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Union Berlin, who finished eighth in the 2. Bundesliga last term, trailing the playoff places by nine points, kicked off their season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Aue at Alte Forsterei, with Felix Kroos scoring the only goal of the game with an excellent free kick in injury time. The team then posted a surprise result in the second round against promotion candidates Cologne, holding them to an excellent 1-1 draw two weeks ago – although Cologne was dominating the whole game. Union Berlin continued their unbeaten run in the cup against 3. Bundesliga side Jena last weekend, with a 4-2 win.

St. Pauli have enjoyed a perfect start to the league with two wins and are sitting at the top of the 2. Bundesliga, but their cup match last weekend was a different matter as the team lost 3-2 in extra time against third division club Wehen last Friday. The defeat was not expected considering they have such a good squad at their disposal and St. Pauli had hoped to get further in the competition. However, their full focus will be on the league now and they will aim for a place at the top of the standings right from the beginning.

This could be a close encounter at Alte Forsterei, but I can see the hosts just nicking it. My money is going on a tight Union Berlin victory this Sunday.

SECOND PREDICTION: ODD/EVEN – ODD

This could be a close matchup at Alte Forsterei, and one goal could be enough to win it. Five of Union Berlin’s last seven league wins have come by one goal, so back odd goals to be scored in Berlin at the weekend.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have been only nine 2. Bundesliga meetings between these teams in Berlin, with the hosts winning seven, drawing one and losing only once.