Union Berlin will look to bring an end to their winless run when they host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon.
Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins across competitions when they hit the road to square up against Union Berlin, who are yet to win a game in 2026 and are at risk of being dragged into the relegation battle.
The home team are now tenth on the points table with just 25 points in their 22 outings. They have been winless in their last seven games, with their last win coming back in December against FC Koln.
While they are still eight points clear of the drop zone, if Die Eisernen’s struggles continue, they could certainly be dragged into the race for survival. Union Berlin are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hamburg. Given their form, it could be a long night at home against a team pushing for a top-four spot.
The visitors have not been at their best this season, and they are currently sixth on the points table with 39 points in their 21 outings. Bayer Leverkusen are three points behind fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart but do have a game in hand.
Kasper Hjulmand’s men are unbeaten in their last seven games across competitions, winning six of those outings, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.
Bayer Leverkusen will certainly be confident about extending their incredible run and strengthening their chances of a top-four finish. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Union Berlin
The home team will be without the services of Diogo Leite (thigh) and Josip Juranovic (calf), while Tom Rothe and Robert Skov are closing in on a return, but this fixture comes a touch too early for them.
Union Berlin will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Frederik Ronnow will start in goal. The back three will be made up of Danilho Doekhi, Leopold Querfeld, and Stanley Nsoki. The trio will look to keep things tight at the back, and they will receive significant support from Christopher Trimmel and Derrick Kohn, who will feature as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Aljoscha Kemlein will start alongside Rani Khedira in the centre of the park. The duo will look to ensure the Bayer Leverkusen midfielders do not run the show.
Ilyas Ansah and Livan Burcu will feature as the two attacking midfielders behind Andrej Ilic, who will lead the line for Union Berlin against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Nsoki; Trimmel, Khedira, Kemlein, Kohn; Burcu, Ansah; Ilic
Bayer Leverkusen
The visitors remain without the services of Mark Flekken (knee), Nathan Tella (foot), and Eliesse Ben Seghir (ankle). Apart from the trio, everyone else should be available for selection.
Bayer Leverkusen will line up in a 3-2-4-1 formation, where Janis Blaswich will be in goal. Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba, and Robert Andrich will form the back three. Given their recent form, the trio will be eyeing another clean sheet.
Meanwhile, Aleix Garcia and Equi Fernandez will be the two holding midfielders in front of the back line. The duo will look to shield the defence and control the tempo of the game.
Arthur and Alejandro Grimaldo will feature out wide on the flanks, while Malik Tillman will start alongside Ibrahim Maza in an advanced role. The duo will look to create chances for Patrik Schick, who will spearhead the Bayer Leverkusen attack against Union Berlin on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-2-4-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Aleix Garcia, Fernandez; Arthur, Tillman, Maza, Grimaldo; Schick
Key Stats
- Union Berlin have been winless in their last seven games; they last tasted victory back in December.
- Bayer Leverkusen have been unbeaten in their last seven games, winning six of those fixtures.
- The home team have conceded three goals in three out of their last four matches.
- Bayer Leverkusen have kept five clean sheets in their last seven outings and have conceded just two goals in that run of games.
- When the two teams last met in October, Bayer Leverkusen secured a 2-0 win and are now eyeing a double.
Player to Watch
Patrik Schick
Schick has been one of the standout performers for Bayer Leverkusen in the ongoing campaign. In just over 1,800 minutes of first-team action in his 28 outings, the 30-year-old striker has 13 goals and three assists. While he did go through a dry spell, the former AS Roma striker seems to be back at his best.
Not only did he bag a goal in their last league outing against St. Pauli, but Schick also bagged a brace against Olympiacos last time out, and it won’t be much of a surprise if he ends up adding to his tally against Union Berlin on Saturday.
Prediction
Union Berlin 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Union Berlin will be desperate to halt their worrying slide, but facing an in-form Bayer Leverkusen team is far from ideal at this stage. The hosts may look to keep things compact and physical, hoping to frustrate their opponents and capitalise on set-piece situations, but their recent defensive lapses suggest they could struggle to keep the away side at bay for long spells.
Meanwhile, the visitors should approach this fixture with confidence and control, given their momentum across competitions. If they manage to impose their tempo early and make the most of their superiority in the final third, Bayer Leverkusen are well placed to grind out another away victory and continue their push towards the Bundesliga’s top four. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Kasper Hjulmand and his charges.
