Union Berlin vs. Wolfsburg: probable teams, match facts and LIVE blog!

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Becker's career-best form has helped send Union to the summit for the first time in their Bundesliga history. The Surinamese forward has scored a joint-league-leading five goals so far in 2022/23, earning the August Player of the Month accolade for his efforts. He also had one disallowed as Union won 1-0 in Cologne last time out to maintain their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season. Depending on how Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fare on Saturday, Die Eisernen could find themselves third come kick-off, but three points against Wolfsburg will guarantee them first place over the September international break. Head coach Urs Fischer has a UEFA Europa League trip to Portuguese club Braga to factor into his preparations, though rotation was kept to a minimum between last Thursday's 1-0 loss to Saint-Gilloise and the game in Cologne. One welcome change saw the return of Jordan following two matches on the sidelines. The USMNT striker has registered two goals and two assists in five Bundesliga appearances since making the summer switch to Germany from Switzerland's Young Boys.

There's a former Union fan favourite on the Wolfsburg books in Kruse. The 14-time Germany international produced 19 goals and 12 assists in 45 competitive games for the capital club between September 2020 and January 2022, but won't be involved on Matchday 7. Despite appearing in Wolfsburg's first five Bundesliga assignments of the season, starting two, he's been told he no longer has a first-team role to play under Niko Kovac. Luca Waldschmidt, Lukas Nmecha and Josip Brekalo formed a three-man attack at home to Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt as the Wolves recorded their first Bundesliga win of the Kovac era, restricting Omar Marmoush to a substitute role for the third successive game. Kovac said he sees no great reason to change his side on the back of that result, but may have to if midfielder Mattias Svanberg can't shake off a thigh complaint. Summer signing Patrick Wimmer also remains a major doubt. The Austrian attacker hasn't featured since sustaining a head injury in the 2-0 loss to Bayern on Matchday 2. Wolfsburg begin the weekend in the relegation play-off spot, on five points.

Match stats

Becker has landed 10 of his 14 shots on target in this season's Bundesliga, scoring with five.

Union will stay top, if results go their way. The last team not called Bayern to spend more than one matchday in first place was Wolfsburg (Matchdays 2-4, 2021/22).

Die Eisernen are unbeaten in a club record 13 Bundesliga matches (W10, D3). It's the longest run of any team, and in their club history. Bayern were the last team to beat them (4-0, 19 March 2022).

Nmecha has had a direct hand in four of Wolfsburg's five Bundesliga goals in 2022/23.

Kruse has 16 goals and 13 assists to show for 62 compettive appearances across his two spells with Wolfsburg.

Wolfsburg have only failed to win away to two of the current clubs currently in the Bundesliga: Bayern (26 matches) and Union (three matches).

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Probable teams

Union: Ronnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Leite - Trimmel (c), Thorsby, Khedira, Haberer, Gießelmann - Becker, Jordan

Out: -

Doubtful: Doekhi (knock), Möhwald (knock)

Coach: Urs Fischer

Wolfsburg: Casteels - Baku, Lacroix, Van de Ven, Otavio - Franjic, Guilavogui, Arnold (c) - Waldschmidt, L. Nmecha, Brekalo

Out: Kruse (not considered), Roussillon (Achilles), Wind (thigh)

Doubtful: Svanberg (thigh), Wimmer (head)

Coach: Niko Kovac

About the clubs VfL Wolfsburg

Volkswagen Arena

1. FC Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei

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