Union Berlin-Cologne is a Bundesliga Week 16 match and is played on Wednesday at 6:30pm: TV, likely lineups, predictions.
Union Berlin has now resigned itself. Finished out of all cups, this year’s goal must be to maintain the category and avoid a disastrous relegation. The Capitols keep losing: on Saturday came another ugly defeat at home to Bochum (3-0), a new setback after the glimmers of light that had been glimpsed in the previous two matches with Augsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach (a draw and a win).
The standings situation remains bleak: with one match to spare – the challenge with Bayern Munich, postponed due to snow, will have to be made up – Union Berlin is third to last, in the middle of the red zone. The new coach, Nenad Bjelica, who took over a month ago from the exonerated Fischer, who was removed from office at the end of a very long series of consecutive defeats, has a lot of work to do. There was a small turnaround with the Croatian coach’s arrival, but last weekend’s collapse in Bochum again threw Eisernen fans into despondency, who went from euphoria over historic Champions League qualification to fear of relegation in a matter of months.
Two disappointing teams
On the final day of the 2023 Bundesliga, Union Berlin will host Cologne in what is in effect a direct clash for salvation.
The Billy Goats, second to last and with the same points as Union but also with one more race, are not doing well either. Steffen Baumgart’s team, which continues to have the trust of the club despite the bad moment, has managed to get the better of only the tail-end Darmstadt since late October. On Sunday, the red and whites returned empty-handed again from the away trip to Freiburg (2-0), remaining out of goals for the umpteenth time: only 10 goals scored for what is the worst attack in the tournament.
The Prediction
Union Berlin is undefeated in Bundesliga challenges against Cologne: the tally is eight wins for the Capitols and two draws. Bjelica’s team should avoid defeat this time as well, but we certainly do not expect a spectacular match between two formations that are experiencing a very difficult moment and will do everything not to lose. The total goals could be less than three at the Stadion an der alten Forsterei.
The probable lineups of Union Berlin-Cologne
UNION BERLIN (4-2-3-1): Rønnow; Juranović, Knoche, Leite, Roussillon; Khedira, Haberer; Hollerbach, Volland, Becker; Behrens.
COLONIA (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe; Carstensen, Hübers, Kilian, Heintz; Martel, Ljubicic; Thielmann, Kainz, Maina; Selke.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
