SV Sandhausen - Union Berlin

Union to roar to victory over Sandhausen

TEAM NEWS

Sandhausen’s Tim Knipping, Nejmeddin Daghfous, Karim Guede and Rurik Gislason are all out with different injuries. 

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

Sandhausen

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Tim Knipping (broken foot), Nejmeddin Daghfous (calf), Karim Guede (knee), Rurik Gislason (unspecified)

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

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

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: AWAY WIN

Kenan Kocak’s Sandhausen have made a slow start to their season, failing to pick up a single point from a possible nine. After losing 3-1 at Greuther Furth in the opener and a 3-0 home defeat to promotion candidates Hamburg, SVS crashed to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Bochum last Friday to compound their misery even further. Sandhausen – who finished last season very weakly, winning only one of their final 11 league games along with five draws and five losses – need to get their act together fast.

Union Berlin have been the surprise package in the 2. Bundesliga so far, winning two and drawing one of their first three league matches to sit joint top with Cologne in terms of points and goals. Union have beaten Aue 1-0, drawn with Cologne 1-1 and beaten promotion candidates St. Pauli 4-1 in their most recent league outing. Last year, Union Berlin had set their sights on promotion at the beginning of the season, but failed phenomenally. This time they are only focusing on one game at a time – and that approach appears to be working well.

Union Berlin are on fire while Sandhausen are facing a lot of problems right now. I’m backing Union Berlin to seal back-to-back league wins by taking all three points at Hardtwald Stadium this weekend.

SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – LOW

Five of the seven league encounters between these teams at Hardtwald Stadium have finished with two goals or fewer. Seeing as Sandhausen have scored only one goal in three league matches we could see another low-scoring contest here.

HEAD TO HEAD

Sandhausen beat Union Berlin 1-0 on home soil last season and they have the edge in this head-to-head at home with four wins, two draws and one defeat at Hardtwald Stadium.