Union Berlin vs Darmstadt Prediction 28.01.2024

• Competition: Germany - Bundesliga
• Date: Sunday, 28th, January 2024
• Kickoff: 14:30 UK / 15.30 CET
• Venue: Stadion An der Alten Forsterei (Berlin)

Round 19 of the Bundesliga promises excitement as two teams battling for survival go head-to-head, with Union Berlin hosting bottom-placed Darmstadt at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei on Sunday afternoon.

Union Berlin vs Darmstadt Betting Tips: Union Berlin to Win

Despite shaking up the German football scene last season with a historic entry into Europe's most elite club competition courtesy of a fourth-place finish, Union Berlin is not even a pale shadow of that team this season, as reflected in their narrow 0-1 loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, placing them only three points away from the relegation places.

On the brighter side, the Iron Ones have seen a sudden upturn in their prospects for staying in the top-flight since Nenad Bjelica took the reins from Urs Fischer, with the Croatian tactician managing to level the points tally accumulated over the opening 12 rounds in just four matches, collecting a commendable seven points.

While head coach Bjelica will be forced to watch the Sunday clash from the stands due to the red card shown to him midweek following an incident with Leroy Sane, the return to the German capital brings positive signals for Union, aiming for a third straight victory after previously saw off Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 and beating Koln with a routine 2-0.

Providing a morale boost for the Berlin outfit is the fact that they've proven to be the dominant force in all three clashes with relegation zone residents, and what's even more captivating is that one of these successes came against Sunday's opponent Darmstadt, whom they demolished with a 4-1 victory in the second week of the season.

Despite their dismal run without a win in the German top-tier extending to an incredible 11 matches, Torsten Lieberknecht's team refrains from dwelling on sorrow, having salvaged a precious point in front of their home crowd in a dramatic deadlock of 2-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt, securing the equalizer in the 95th minute through Klarer.

In a bid to enhance their chances of breaking free from the bottom three, Die Lilien must initiate a process of fortifying their defensive setup, considering the alarming 46 goals conceded in 18 domestic affairs, marking them with the most porous defensive record in the Bundesliga.

The situation in the backline looks even more dire for Darmstadt during this term's away ventures, considering their average goals conceded surpasses the number three, shipping 25 goals in the opening eight top-flight visits. Therefore, Union Berlin, buoyed by two convincing consecutive home displays, has the opportunity to add three more points to their tally and establish a healthy buffer above the relegation zone.