Match Overview

The eagerly anticipated Bundesliga Matchday 2 clash between Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin is set for August 31st at the iconic Signal Iduna Park. This preview offers an in-depth analysis, betting predictions, and key statistics for the Borussia Dortmund vs Union Berlin encounter.

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund’s Season Start

Under the guidance of Niko Kovac, Borussia Dortmund opened their season with a disappointing 3-3 draw against St. Pauli away from home. Remarkably, Dortmund squandered a two-goal lead, conceding twice in the final five minutes of the match. This result not only halted their impressive five-game winning streak in the league but also marked the first time in their last 18 Bundesliga outings that they conceded more than two goals. With a single point, the team currently sits in eighth place in the league standings.

Key Squad Additions

Ahead of this crucial fixture, Borussia Dortmund has strengthened their squad with the signings of defender Aaron Anselmino, midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, and forward Fábio Silva, aiming to bolster their ranks for the challenges ahead.

Borussia Dortmund Home Form

• Borussia Dortmund has secured victories in 5 of their last 6 home matches in the Bundesliga.
• The team has scored at least three goals in 5 of their last 6 league encounters at their home stadium.
• Dortmund have conceded goals in 8 of their last 11 Bundesliga home fixtures.

Predicted Starting XI: Borussia Dortmund (3-5-2)*

Gregor Kobel – Filippo Mane, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini – Yan Couto, Pascal Groß, Jobe Bellingham, Marcel Sabitzer, Daniel Svensson – Serhou Guirassy, Karim Adeyemi.

Team News: Borussia Dortmund Absentees

Defender Niklas Süle and forward Julien Duranville are currently unavailable due to injuries. Additionally, defender Filippo Mane is suspended for this match.

Union Berlin

Union Berlin’s Strong Start

In their opening fixture, Steffen Baumgart’s side secured a 2-1 home victory against Stuttgart. This marked Union’s second consecutive Bundesliga win, although they failed to keep a clean sheet for the 12th time in their last 14 league matches. Notably, the team has now gone unbeaten in their opening Bundesliga match for the fifth season in a row (3 wins, 2 draws). With three points, the Berlin club currently holds fifth place in the league table.

Union Berlin Away Form

• Union Berlin has avoided defeat in 6 of their last 7 away matches in the Bundesliga (4 wins, 2 draws).
• At least three goals have been scored in 6 of the club’s last 8 away league fixtures.
• Union has conceded no more than one goal in their last five Bundesliga away games.

Predicted Starting XI: Union Berlin (3-5-2)*

Frederik Rønnow – Danilo Doekhi, Leopold Querfeld, Tom Rothe – Christopher Trimmel, András Schäfer, Rani Khedira, Janik Haberer, Robert Skov – Ilias Ansah, Andrija Ilic.

Referee Profile: Daniel Schlager

Daniel Schlager (Germany)

Matches officiated – 15 (Bundesliga, 2024/25);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 51;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;

Red cards shown – 3;

Average fouls per match – 20;

Penalties awarded – 13%.

Match Prediction: Borussia Dortmund vs Union Berlin

Borussia Dortmund’s Offensive Prowess

At their home ground, the Dortmund side consistently favors an aggressive attacking style, aiming to spend as much time as possible in their opponent’s half. Borussia’s offensive statistics are impressive: last Bundesliga season, the team netted 44 goals in 17 home matches. Furthermore, in their last four home league games, the club’s players have scored at least three goals on each occasion. It’s also worth noting that in their previous six head-to-head encounters with Union at Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga, Borussia has registered a remarkable 23 goals.

Union Berlin’s Attacking & Defensive Trends

Union Berlin has shown significant attacking intent in their recent away fixtures, scoring 11 goals in their last seven league matches on the road. However, their defensive record is less robust: in 11 of their last 13 Bundesliga away encounters, Union has failed to keep a clean sheet, conceding 26 goals during this period.

Match Prediction

I anticipate an exciting and high-scoring match between these two sides. Therefore, my final prediction is: Total Goals Over 2.5 with odds of 1.55

Author Information

Author: Dmitry Shchurko

Disclaimer

* The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.