Union Berlin – Malmo FF : Preview & Prediction
Having lost their first Bundesliga game of the season just over a week ago, Union Berlin bounced back in fine fashion with a pair of 1-0 away wins. The win over Stuttgart at the weekend was enough to cement their place at the top of the Bundesliga (G6, E2, P1), although, in contrast, the other win in that span came against Malmö and that is the only win the German side has managed so far in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage this season (P2).
With the two teams above Union in UEL Group D playing each other, this is a great opportunity for the German side to close the gap on at least one of their two main rivals before two big clashes against Braga and Royale Union. Having managed just one win in their last five European home games (E2, P2) certainly doesn’t inspire much confidence in closing that gap, while the fact that their three games so far in the UEL have ended 1-0 (G1, E2) hints that this game will be a close encounter.
With three defeats in three matches in Group D so far, elimination seems certain for Malmö, a team that would certify finishing bottom of the group should they lose here – something that has happened to them in the last three European campaigns they have contested. The others were in the UEFA Champions League, but that makes a last-place finish in a UEL group stage all the more humiliating for the 22-time Swedish champions, whose Allsvenskan title defense is also in tatters as they sit nine points off the pace.
A 0-0 draw at home to Värnamo over the weekend only served to rub salt in the wound, as Malmö have now failed to score in any of their last three matches (E2, P1). With just one win in their last nine European away games (E2, P6), it’s hard to see things getting much better for Malmo on away form, and in fact, a winless record on German soil (E2, P4) only serves to complicate matters further.
Players to watch: Union’s Sheraldo Becker scored the winning goal in the previous meeting between these two sides and has been Union’s last/single scorer in four of their five games in which they have found the back of the net. With one goal and three assists so far in the UEL this season, Malmo can look to Joseph Ceesay to end their goal drought.
Key stat: None of Union’s last seven matches have seen either team score.
Union Berlin – Malmo FF : Betting Tips
OVER 2.5 GOALS Odds: 2.25
