Borussia Dortmund-Union Berlin is a Bundesliga match of the 27th day and is played on Saturday at 15:30: TV, formations, predictions.

While Bayern Munich will be looking to avenge the fresh German Cup elimination in Freiburg, while at the same time attempting to stretch their lead in the standings, Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin, respectively the second and third leaders in the current Bundesliga, will be battling it out to decide who will be the Bavarians’ antagonist.

The big match of the 27th day is indeed the one at Signal Iduna Park, between the two teams who can still have their say in the title fight, or at least help keep it open as much as possible. Borussia Dortmund have 53 points, two less than Bayern, while the surprising Capitols are on 51. The Gialloneri are coming off their first double defeat of 2023, between league and German Cup. Last Saturday they suffered their first knockout loss of the calendar year in the Bundesliga – they had come from nine wins and a draw – losing badly (4-2) in the eagerly awaited direct clash with Bayern Munich: an almost completely one-sided Klassiker, as Thomas Tuchel’s battleship was already four goals ahead after 50 minutes of play. At the end of the match, first Emre Can’s penalty and then Malen’s goal in the 90th minute made the deficit less severe. The Bavarians’ superiority, however, was evident on every side of the pitch.

Who is the anti-Bayern?

In the week Borussia Dortmund, still evidently shaken by the drubbing of their old rivals, also waved goodbye to the domestic cup, losing 2-0 at home to a Leipzig side decidedly more inspired and motivated to move on in the competition.

Doekhi and Seguin of Union Berlin

Union Berlin also showed little interest in the German Cup, defeated by Eintracht Frankfurt with the same result. Urs Fischer’s side are making a real masterpiece but, as they had already shown in the Europa League, they struggle to cope with the double commitment and last Tuesday’s defeat is surprising but not too surprising. In any case, the red-and-whites are living a dream, as they come to Dortmund after two rounded league victories in a row between Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0) and Stuttgart (3-0). Since the Union have been in the top flight – they were promoted for the first time in 2019 – they have never managed to conquer Signal Iduna Park in their five previous fixtures between Bundesliga and cup competitions.

The Prediction

Both have done better at home than away from home: Borussia Dortmund in front of their ‘yellow wall’ hardly ever makes mistakes, and have so far scored 10 wins, one draw and one defeat. It will not be an easy match for the yellow-and-whites, but they are the favourites in this direct confrontation, in which Union Berlin should also manage to score at least one goal.

Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin matchday squad

• BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-3-3): Kobel; Wolf, Süle, Hummels, Ryerson; Bellingham, Emre Can, Guerreiro; Brandt, Malen, Reus.
• UNION BERLIN (3-5-2): Ronnow; Doekhi, Knoche, Leite; Juranovic, Laidouni, Khedira, Haberer, Roussillon; Becker, Behrens.

POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1