Union Berlin vs Mainz preview: Hosts continue on quest to recover form | OneFootball

Union Berlin

Union Berlin head coach Steffen Baumgart has endured a challenging start to his tenure, overseeing two defeats in his first two matches. His team has struggled at both ends of the pitch during this brief period, failing to score while conceding four goals.

The hosts have found the net just 13 times this season, the joint second-worst tally in the Bundesliga. However, their defence has been relatively solid, ranking as the league's joint fifth-best with only 24 goals conceded.

Union's poor form extends beyond Baumgart’s arrival, as they are winless in their last 11 matches, suffering eight defeats, including their last three. This slump has also affected their home performances. Despite winning their first three matches at Stadion An der Alten Försterei this season, Union have failed to secure victory in any of their subsequent five home games, drawing three and losing two.

In the reverse fixture on August 24, Union drew 1-1 with Mainz. Both sides created two significant chances during that encounter, reflecting the tight nature of their previous meeting

Team News

Union Berlin will be without wing-back Tom Rothe, who is suspended, while goalkeepers Frederik Rønnow and Yannic Stein are sidelined until February. Defender Josip Juranović is nearing a return, but Kevin Vogt’s absence until March might prompt Steffen Baumgart to opt for a back four. This could see Christopher Trimmel, Danilho Doekhi, Diogo Leite, and Jérôme Roussillon start in defence, with Alexander Schwolow in goal.

In attack, Jordan Siebatcheu is expected to lead the line, flanked by Benedict Hollerbach and Woo-Yeong Jeong, as striker Ivan Prtajin is unlikely to return from injury before late January.

For Mainz, forwards Gabriel Vidović and Jonathan Burkardt remain unavailable, so Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee are likely to support striker Armindo Sieb in the final third.

At the back, Dominik Kohr, Maxim Leitsch, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen could form a back three due to injuries to centre-backs Moritz Jenz and Stefan Bell.

In midfield, Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri have been regular partners and are strong candidates to feature together again on Sunday.

Mainz

Die Nullfünfer fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against champions Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. It was a tough outing offensively, as Mainz managed just 0.12 xG from open play.

Despite the setback, Bo Henriksen’s side remain firmly in the mix for European qualification. They are only two points behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig and eight points off third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who have played one more game.

Henriksen’s men have been in impressive form recently, winning six of their last eight Bundesliga matches and losing just twice in their last 10. Mainz have been solid defensively, keeping four clean sheets in their last nine matches. Offensively, they have been potent as well, scoring three goals in four of their last eight league games.

While Mainz have lost two of their last three away matches, those defeats are their only setbacks in nine away fixtures this season. Their overall away record remains strong, with five wins and two draws complementing those two losses.

Team News

For Mainz, forwards Gabriel Vidović and Jonathan Burkardt remain unavailable, so Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee are likely to support striker Armindo Sieb in the final third.

At the back, Dominik Kohr, Maxim Leitsch, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen could form a back three due to injuries to centre-backs Moritz Jenz and Stefan Bell.

In midfield, Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri have been regular partners and are strong candidates to feature together again on Sunday.