German Bundesliga Soccer - Hoffenheim vs. Union Berlin, 6/20/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds

Having confirmed a Bundesliga stay for another year, 12th-placed Union Berlin travels to see off 7th-placed Hoffenheim, who are still battling for a place in Europe. Kick-off - at 9:30 AM ET on Saturday, June 20.

Hoffenheim Eye Europe

Hoffenheim remained on the course to qualify for a berth in the Europa League next season after banking three important points away at Augsburg, snatching a 3-1 win at WWK Arena on Wednesday. Die Kraichgauer outshot the hosts 16-12, hit the woodwork a league-high four times, and found the back of the net on three occasions, with Munas Dabbur scoring twice in a span of three minutes. Ihlas Bebou also netted for Hoffenheim, who remain 7th in the Bundesliga (W13 D7 L12), on level points with 6th-placed Wolfsburg and just one ahead of 8th-placed Freiburg.

Fourteen different players have scored for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga this year, with Andrej Kramaric leading the side with seven tallies. Goalie Oliver Baumann, meanwhile, sits 5th in the league with 97 saves. He has recorded five clean sheets in 28 appearances this season and gives up a goal every 51 minutes on average. Die Kraichgauer has buried the 8th highest quantity of goals during the current campaign (45) while taking the 10th highest amount of shots per game (13.1). The team is 6th in ball possession (51.6%) and 5th in passing accuracy (81.5%).

Union Berlin Secure Bundesliga Stay

Bundesliga debutants Union Berlin secured a place in Germany’s top-flight for another season after snatching a 1-0 home victory against bottom-dwelling Paderborn at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Tuesday. The Iron Ones controlled the ball just 41% of the time, but outshot the visitors 15-12, with Christopher Trimmel’s trademark set-piece delivery ending up in Paderborn’s net 27 minutes into the contest. The Berliners have won their past two games, going unbeaten for three straight outings (W2 D1). They are 12th in the Bundesliga with a W11 D5 L16 record, nine points clear of the bottom three with two games remaining.

Swedish forward Sebastian Andersson tops Union Berlin’s scoring chart with 12 markers, despite having tallied just once in his last seven games. Goalie Rafal Gikiewicz, meanwhile, resides 2nd in the Bundesliga with 112 saves. He has recorded seven clean sheets in 32 outings this year and concedes a goal every 53 minutes of play. The Iron Ones have netted the 14th highest number of goals this season (38), while delivering the 15th highest quantity of shots per game (12). The team is 2nd from the bottom in both ball possession (43.8%) and passing accuracy (70.3%).

Prediction

The mission of Union Berlin to remain in the Bundesliga for another year has been completed. For Hoffenheim, though, everything is still open, as the team is trying to secure a place in the Europa League next season. With so much more to play for, Die Kraichgauer will be going into this matchup with no shortage of motivation and resolve. The only previous meeting between the two sides - this season’s reverse fixture in December - finished with a 2-0 road win for Hoffenheim, who are entering the upcoming encounter on the back of just a single defeat in their last six Bundesliga contests (W3 D2 L1). The Berliners have been in great form lately (W2 D1), but have 10 losses in 16 away games this season (W4 D2 L10).

Best bet:

Hoffenheim to win (-165)