Union Berlin vs. VfB Stuttgart: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

Union have made a hot-and-cold start to 2022. Urs Fischer's side were only a point outside the top four at Christmas, but the gap has grown to six in the early part of 2022. The Berlin club suffered their fourth defeat in eight Rückrunde matches in Wolfsburg last time out, and begin the weekend in seventh, four points adrift of the European qualification spots - six behind fourth-placed Hoffenheim. Despite going five top-flight games without a goal since being brought in from Bundesliga 2 club Paderborn to replace Max Kruse, Sven Michel is expected to be recalled alongside top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi and Sheraldo Becker in attack. Right-wing-back Christopher Trimmel and central midfielder Rani Khedira are also set for recalls, but first-choice goalkeeper Andreas Luthe misses out. Frederick Ronnow, who started the DFB Cup quarter-final win over St. Pauli a week ago, will deputise.

It was Stuttgart who fell victim to Bundesliga upstarts Union in the 2019 promotion/ relegation play-off. Avoiding a repeat showing is the club's only objective, 25 rounds of fixtures into the 2021/22 campaign. Pellegrino Matarazzo's men have given themselves a fighting chance following a 3-2 win from 2-0 down against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The result ended a run of nine without victory, whilst reducing the deficit on current relegation play-off incumbents Hertha Berlin to a point. Kalajdzic scored the winner when he put away a trademark Sosa cross. If the Austrian striker can stay fit - he's missed 18 matches already this term, but was the team's 16-goal leading marksman in 2020/21 - VfB will be quietly confident of skipping the trap door. Sporting Lisbon loanee Tiago Tomas has scored twice in five games so far, but could be sacrificed for an extra man in midfield, namely Orel Mangala.

Match stats

Awoniyi has made 55 Bundesliga appearances, producing 16 goals across stints with Mainz and Union. The Nigerian has also played 55 times in all competitions for Union, scoring 20 times.

Union have lost four of five Bundesliga games since Kruse left for Wolfsburg. That's as many defeats as across the first 20 matchdays.

However, the Berliners have recorded 23 of of their 34 Bundesliga wins to date on home soil, including seven of 10 this season.

Nine of Kalajdzic's 18 Bundesliga goals have been headers.

Sosa has 16 Bundesliga assists. He's furnished Kalajdzic seven times.

Stuttgart have won only one of 12 away Bundesliga games this season (2-0 at Wolfsburg). They've drawn the other four and lost seven.

Probable line-ups

Union: Ronnow - Baumgartl, Knoche, Heintz - Trimmel (c), Khedira, Prömel, Gießelmann - Becker, Michel - Awoniyi

Out: Behrens (not included), Endo (leg), Haraguchi (not included) Luthe (not included), Öztunali (not included)

Doubtful: Schäfer (knee)

Coach: Urs Fischer

Stuttgart: Müller - Mavropanos, Anton, Ito - Karazor - Führich, Endo (c), Mangala, Sosa - Marmoush, Kalajdzic

Out: Egloff (back), Nartey (knee), Sankoh (knee), Silas (shoulder)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo