Bundesliga | Gameweek 32

May 3, 2025 at 2.30pm UK

Stadion An der Alten Forsterei

Union Berlin vs Werder Bremen

Match preview

Steffen Baumgart's side are the best team in the bottom 10, but while their long unbeaten run in recent weeks has shown their resilience, they are winless in their last three matches and have won just two of their last six.

Last time out, they followed up a dramatic 4-4 draw with Stuttgart - the first Bundesliga match to feature eight first-half goals - with a 1-1 draw at bottom side VfL Bochum.

The stalemate left Baumgart's side 13th in the table on 36 points, although their point against Die Roten ensured their safety at the top, moving them 11 points clear of Heidenheim, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.

However, this weekend's hosts will be looking to end the 2024-25 campaign on a high after a difficult campaign, but with just one win since January at An der Alten Forsterei, form suggests they will struggle to take all three points against their in-form opponents.

A win for Union on Saturday would be their first since 6 April and would move them level on points with 12th-placed Wolfsburg, who are five points adrift of a top-half finish with four games remaining.

Meanwhile, Ole Werner's Werder remain in the hunt for a place in next season's European competition and, with 13 points from their last five games, they are the most in-form team outside the top two.

Sunday's 0-0 draw with 14th-placed St. Pauli snapped a four-game winning streak, and the coach will be concerned that his side only managed half as many shots on target as their opponents, despite the difference in league position.

Bremen, on the other hand, have kept four clean sheets in their current five-match unbeaten run, conceding just one goal and scoring eight in the process.

However, Werner's men dropped two points last weekend, leaving them eighth in the table on 46 points, two behind sixth-placed Borussia Dortmund and three behind fifth-placed RB Leipzig.

Knowing how important a win could be so close to the end of the season, the visitors will take confidence from the fact that they have won three consecutive away games and will be keen to prove that their disappointing draw with St Pauli was a one-off.

Three points on Saturday would see Werder move above BVB and level on points with Leipzig, but they will need their rivals to slip up significantly given their inferior goal difference.

Recent Performance

Union Berlin Bundesliga form:DWWDDD

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:LWWWWD

Team News

Union welcome versatile wing-back Josip Juranovic back into the squad after he recovered from the injury he picked up against Bayer Leverkusen last month, and he could start on the left flank this weekend.

Left-sided full-back Jerome Roussillon and wide man Robert Skov could also feature after recovering from injuries, although they are likely to start from the bench.

Elsewhere, centre-half Diogo Leite is expected to be out for the rest of the season with a broken larynx, meaning Kevin Vogt should start alongside Leopold Querfeld and Danilho Doekhi in the backline.

As for Werder, centre-back Milos Velkjovic will be sidelined with a muscle injury picked up against Borussia Monchengladbach, so expect a back three of Amos Pieper, Marco Friedl and Niklas Stark in Werder's XI.

At the other end of the pitch, striker Marvin Ducksch should be supported by Romano Schmid and Justin Njinmah, while full-backs Felix Agu and Mitchell Weiser will provide width.

Possible starting lineup

Union Berlin possible starting lineup:

Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Vogt; Trimmel, Schafer, Khedira, Haberer, Juranovic; Hollerbach, Ilic

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Zetterer; Stark, Friedl, Pieper; Weiser, Stage, Lynen, Agu; Njinmah, Schmid; Ducksch