Union Berlin and SC Braga will go one-on-one at Olympiastadion Berlin in their UEFA Champions League matchday two Group C clash on Tuesday at 16:45 GMT.
Key Highlights
Union Berlin’s Poor Start to Their Bundesliga Season
Urs Fischer is overseeing a four-match losing run in the Bundesliga for Union Berlin.
After a brilliant winning start of two consecutive wins, Union Berlin lost the last four. Including the Champions League loss away to Real Madrid, Urs Fischer and his charges have lost five consecutive matches.
Union warmed up for the clash against Braga with a 1-0 loss away to Heidenheim on Saturday, which compounds their form.
On Tuesday, they will look to bounce back to winning ways when they entertain Primeira Liga side Braga.
Braga’s Mixed Start to their Primeira Liga Campaign
Braga warmed up for the trip to Germany to face Union with a thrilling 2-4 win away to Estrela Amadora. This was Braga’s fourth win in the opening seven matches in the Primeira Liga. They have also lost twice and drawn once.
Their mixed start to the season means they sit 5th on the Primeira Liga table with 13 points, six behind leaders Sporting.
They opened their Group C Champions League campaign with a 1-2 home defeat against Napoli. They will hope to bounce back to winning ways and get their first points in the group when they travel to Union on Tuesday.
Bet hereInjury Report
Union Berlin
Urs Fischer has had to deal with injury-enforced absentees from the matchday squad in the early parts of the season.
Central midfielder Andras Schafer is sidelined with a foot injury. The 24-year-old has been missing from the first team since May 17th and has missed 10 matches for Union so far.
Defensive midfielder Rani is out of consideration as he recovers from a calf injury since August 14th. The 29-year-old will not be fit in time to be in the squad to face Braga on Tuesday.
Right midfielder Laurenz Dehl is sidelined with an unknown injury. The 21-year-old has been out of the first team since August 20, 2023. Center-back Robin Knoche is also nursing muscular problems.
Urs Fischer will look for a way around the injury problems as he seeks to choose the best team to face Braga and optimize their chances of winning their first points in Group C.
Braga
Braga will be without the services of right-back Victor Gomez. The 23-year-old is sidelined with an unknown injury. He has been sidelined since September 28, 2023.
Braga will look to choose their strongest side in the Champions League as they focus on getting their first points when they face Union Berlin on Tuesday.
Possible Lineups
Union Berlin
F. Ronnow; D. Leite, L. Bonucci, D. Doekhi; R. Gosens, A. Kral, L. Tousart, C. Trimmel; D. D. Fofana, K. Behrens, S. Becker
Braga
Matheus; C. Borja, S. Niakate, S. Saatci, V. Gomez; R. Zalazar, Al-Musrati; A. Djalo, Pizzi, R. Horta; S. Banza
Prediction
Union Berlin will retain their back-three shape. The wingbacks will be crucial in offering width to the team and allowing them to stretch the visitors’ defense going forward. Without the ball, they will fall back into a back five, giving them the numbers they need to be compact and solid at the back.
With their three midfielders, Braga will look to control the middle of the pack by recycling possession and launching attacks from deep. They will look to outnumber Union’s midfield and create overloads across the pitch to gain an edge.
Union Berlin and Braga will fight to a draw and share the points.
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