Union Berlin v Royale Union
08 September 1745hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League
Pick Union Berlin win
Bookmaker bet365
Odds: 1.55 odds taken 0919 GMT, Wednesday 7th September
Thursday evening features action from Matchday 1 of this season’s Europa League group stage with Union Berlin taking on Royale Union in Group D at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei with the German hosts looking to extend their solid unbeaten start to this season overall.
Table of Contents
Union Berlin Preview – Can Union Berlin extend unbeaten run?
German hosts, Union Berlin, will be seeking to get the better of another Union, Belgian visitors, Royale Union, on Matchday 1 of the group stage of the Europa League on Thursday evening and having made an unbeaten start to their new season, the Berlin side look set to produce a positive start to this campaign as well.
A DFP domestic cup win over Chemnitzer started the ball rolling for the hosts earlier in the season and the hosts have steadily built momentum in the Bundesliga in the shape of victories against local rivals, Hertha Berlin, as well as wins against RB Leipzig and Schalke, while also picking up points in draws with Mainz and most impressive of all, a 1-1 draw at home with Bayern Munich.
A 5th place finish at the end of last season’s Bundesliga campaign earned Union Berlin an automatic place in the group stage of the Europa League, and the bigger picture shows that the hosts have lost just one of their last 18 matches overall in all competitions, which was a friendly against Eintracht Braunschweig, but also picking up 12 wins in the process as well.
Union Berlin haven’t appeared in the Europa League for some 21 years but a lot has changed since then and any side that can hold the mighty Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw must be respected, especially Union Berlin who are unbeaten in their last 14 home games in all competitions.
The hosts will be without Siebatcheu, Leite and Scheider who are all sidelined with injuries.
Royale Union Preview – Can Royale Union make amends?
Belgian visitors, Royale Union, were sent crashing out of the Champions League at the 3rd qualifying round stage of the competition by Scottish side, Rangers, despite gaining a 2-0 lead after the 1st leg on home soil but a 3-0 loss in the return leg at Ibrox put paid to any ambitions Royale Union may have had of reaching the group stage of the elite competition.
Instead, Royale Union will now conduct their European campaign in the Europa League where they face a tough opening fixture on Matchday 1 away at Union Berlin, with recent results producing a mixed bag of returns for the Belgian outfit, who have won three and lost three of their previous six games overall.
The loss to Rangers was accompanied by domestic defeats in the First Division A to Mechelen and Antwerp in 3-0 and 4-2 losses respectively and both being away from home, although they did also manage to pick up wins against Kortrijk and Anderlecht (both at home), along with a 3-1 win away at Zulte-Waregem last time out on their travels.
Results away from home though could undo Royale Union here on Thursday as the visitors have collected just two wins from their last eight away matches in all competitions, and this will be their first ever campaign at Europa League level in their history.
Royale Union have injury doubts hovering over Nilsson and Machida who are struggling with foot and knee injuries respectively.
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Union Berlin v Royale Union
Key Facts – Union Berlin v Royale Union Tip
- Union Berlin have lost just 1 of their last 18 matches overall in all competitions
- Union Berlin have won 12 of these last 18 home games
- Royale Union have collected just 2 wins from their last 8 away matches in all competitions
Union Berlin with home advantage look set to hold the upper hand here.
The best betting odds for Union Berlin v Royale Union
Un. Berlin to win: 1.55 at bet365
Draw: 4.50 at bet365
Royale Un. to win: 5.50 at bet365
