Union vs RB Leipzig Prediction: Bundesliga Match on 20.08.2022

After picking up four points from the available six, Union Berlin will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season when they host RB Leipzig at the Alte Forsterei Stadium on Saturday at 17:30GMT. RB Leipzig will be looking for their first win of the season after drawing both of their opening two matches and thus taking home two points out of the available six.

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Match Preview

Can Union Maintain their Unbeaten Start to the Season against RB Leipzig?

With a win and a draw, Union Berlin will be looking to bolster their unbeaten start to the season. The clash with RB Leipzig will be a massive test for Union as they seek to examine their consistency and resilience.

Playing at home, Union will be expected to play on the front foot and attack the opposition in search of a win that will earn them three points and maintain their unbeaten record at the start of the Bundesliga season. 

However, there is a need for Union Berlin to strike a balance between their defensive and attacking units to optimize their chances of taking points from this fixture against a very talented RB Leipzig side. 

Can RB Leipzig get their First Win of the Season in the Clash with Union?

RB Leipzig have not started the season well, scoring two draws and collecting two points out of the available six. Since they are expected to be fighting for Champions League places, they will need to bolster their form, starting with the clash with Union on Saturday. 

Domenico Tedesco’s focus will be bolstering their defense to enhance their ability to keep clean sheets. After conceding 1 goal in the 1-1 draw against Stuttgart, they conceded two goals in the 2-2 draw against Koln. 

Tedesco will, therefore, seek to rectify his team’s shape and approach to ensure that they are defensively solid without negatively affecting their attacking play and potency in front of goal.

Form Guide

Union Berlin

Union have started the season with a 3-1 win over Hertha and a 0-0 draw against Mainz. The team’s focus in the match against RB Leipzig on Saturday will be to maintain their form and retain their unbeaten start to the season.

Before the Bundesliga season began, Union beat Chemnitzer FC 2-1 in the DFB-Pokal. 

In their preseason, Union beat Bohemians (2-1), SK Dynamo (1-0), and Nottingham Forest (1-0). They also drew 3-3 with Udinese. This good run form has been extended into their DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga form. 

Urs Fischer will be seeking to bolster this good run of form in the match against RB Leipzig, which will stand them in good stead for the rest of the Bundesliga campaign.

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig won their two pre-season fixtures against Southampton (3-1) and Liverpool (5-0). The 5-0 against Liverpool was especially impressive given the caliber of opposition, and the cutting edge shown by Leipzig in their attacking play.

Domenico Tedesco’s men then lost 5-3 against Bayern Munich in the DFL-Supercup. Leipzig have started the season with back-to-back draws in their first two matches. 

They opened with a 1-1 against Stuttgart and last week ended 2-2 against Koln, albeit with a man sent off. 

Possible Starting Lineups

Union Berlin

Ronnow; D. Leite, R. Knoche, P. Jaeckel; N. Giebehmann, J. Haberer, R. Khedira, G. Haraguchi, J. Ryerson; S. Becker, T. Siebatcheu

RB Leipzig

Gulasci; M. Simakan, W. Orban, M. Halstenberg; B. Henrichs; H. Novoa, D. Raum, Amadou Haidara, D. Olmo; T. Werner, C. Nkunku

Players to Watch

T. Siebatcheu

The striker opened his account by notching the opening goal in the first match of the Bundesliga season when he scored in the 31st minute to give Union the lead.

The striker offers a brilliant relationship with fellow striker Becker, who also scored in the 3-1 win over Hertha.

Siebatcheu will be crucial for Union when they host RB Leipzig, who have not shown great form yet this season. This was shown in how they conceded two goals in their 2-2 draw with Koln and dropped 2 points.

C. Nkunku

The reigning Bundesliga player of the year has picked off from where he left last season. He notched a goal in the 2-2 draw against Hertha and in their opening 1-1 draw at Stuttgart.

Nkunku will be crucial for RB Leipzig this season, especially with his blossoming relationship with new signing Timo Werner to spearhead the Leipzig attack.

Nkunku will be crucial for Leipzig on Saturday as they search for their first win and three points of this young season.

Prediction

As the home team, Union will look to take the initiative and play on the front foot. They will press high and seek to put Leipzig under pressure throughout the team.

RB Leipzig will also seek to play on the front foot with the domination of the ball and pressing high or in the medium lines. Their possession and pressing will help them create chances to score. 

However, this approach will leave them vulnerable to a counter-attack from Union, which will be exploited.

RB Leipzig are well-positioned, heading into this match to notch their first win as they look to kick-start their season and meet their expectations of challenging at the top of the table.

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