Union Berlin - FC St. Pauli

Union Berlin to continue their unbeaten run

TEAM NEWS

Union Berlin will miss Atsuto Uchida.

St. Pauli will be without the long-term injured Ryo Miyaichi, Marc Hornschuh, Aziz Bouhaddouz and Philipp Ziereis while Enver Cenk Sahin and Richard Neudecker will be unavailable too.

Union Berlin

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Atsuto Uchida (calf)

St. Pauli

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Ryo Miyaichi, Enver Cenk Sahin (both knee); Philipp Ziereis (muscle), Marc Hornschuh (back), Richard Neudecker (unspecified), Aziz Bouhaddouz (calf)

MATCH PREVIEW

MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN

Even during a phase of slight technical decline and with several players unavailable, Union Berlin have been able to keep their amazing unbeaten streak in recent weeks. They haven’t lost since September and have not lost any of their last five games after drawing 1-1 away at Duisburg last time out. Union are clear favourites at home against St. Pauli, a side they have beaten three times in their last five league encounters.

However, to defeat St. Pauli, Union Berlin will need to be convincing. After all, the St. Pauli side have been efficient lately when playing away from home. In fact, St. Pauli have won three and drawn one of their last four away games, scoring five goals and conceding only one. They registered a 1-1 draw at home against Aue on Friday – their third consecutive league match that ending with that scoreline.

However, nevertheless, I can see no other outcome than a victory for in-form Union Berlin here – ome win.

SECOND PREDICTION: TOTAL GOALS – THREE

I expect goals for Union Berlin and it is just a case of how many. St. Pauli will need to be at their very best defensively in order to keep the goal count down. Union Berlin have scored 13 goals in the last five league games while the teams’ last four meetings have resulted in 2.75 goals in total on average. I’ll therefore back three goals again here.

HEAD TO HEAD

These two teams have met eight times at Union Berlin in Germany’s second division, with the hosts registering six wins, one draw and one defeat.