Union Berlin vs Schalke 04
Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Bremen
Sunday, 07-06-2020 @4:30pm
The are in the midst of a complete calamity at the moment. The Royal Blues are by far the worst-performing team in the Bundesliga currently, having failed to win a single game since their 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach back in January. They are currently on an eleven game winless run.
Schalke’s most recent debacle came against Werder Bremen, losing to the northern giants by a 1-0 margin at home.
The defeat allowed Hertha Berlin to kick them out of the top half of the Bundesliga table. And heading into this recent fixture, the Ruhrpott giants are running the risk of being overtaken by Eintracht Frankfurt (11th) as well as 1.FC Koln (12th).
Union Berlin are not having a great time either. The Bundesliga new boys are winless since February and have conceded 14 goals in their last five fixtures. Their leaky defence has seen them drop to 14th in the league table.
Although Die Eisernen still have a decent lead over 1.FSV Mainz 05 and Fortuna Dusseldorf, they are pretty much involved the relegation scrap, with five matches remaining.
Union Berlin are likely to be boosted by the return of midfielder Robert Andrich from suspension, but Sheraldo Becker and Julian Ryerson are both on the sidelines through injury. Sebastian Andersson is again expected to lead the line with support from Marius Bulter and Marcus Ingvartsen, while Grischa Promel should keep his spot in the middle of the park.
As for Schalke, Weston McKennie will be unavailable through suspension, while Amine Harit, Suat Serdar, Omar Mascarell and Benjamin Stambouli remain fitness doubts for the out-of-form side. Wagner could shuffle his pack from the side that lost at home to Bremen last time out, with Benito Raman and Guido Burgstaller both in line to feature in the final third of the field. Bastian Oczipka and Nassim Boujellab could also earn starting roles after appearing off the bench last weekend.
Schalke’s 2-1 win in Gelsenkirchen on Matchday 13 is the duo’s only previous top-flight meeting. Suat Serdar scored an 86th-minute winner after Marcus Ingvartsen’s penalty had cancelled out Benito Raman’s 23rd-minute opener. That week was the only time in the 2019/20 season that Schalke have featured in the top three in the table. They now trail the Bundesliga’s first three teams by 21 points. Schalke’s goals against Union Berlin mean they have found the net against all 55 clubs ever to play in the Bundesliga. The Royal Blues’ 34 goals in 29 games is, however, the fourth-worst return in the league this season. Union are on their longest winless run since gaining promotion for the first time (six matches). Four points above 16th place is the closest Die Eisernen have been to the relegation zone since Matchday 11.
The other Bundesliga games on Sunday
-Bremen vs Wolfsburg @2:30pm
-Augsburg vs Koln @7pm
Match-day 30 Results so far
Friday, 05-06-2020
-Freiburg 1-0 Monchengladbach
Saturday, 06-06-2020
-Leipzig 1-1 Paderbon
-Frankfurt 0-2 Mainz
-Leverkusen 2-4 Bayern
-Dusseldorf 2-2 Hoffenheim
