VfB Stuttgart vs Union Berlin prediction 18.01.2026 | Bundesliga

VfB Stuttgart enter this fixture with strong momentum following their winter break. In their first post-break match, Stuttgart delivered a dominant 4-1 away victory over Bayer Leverkusen, with Jamie Leweling scoring twice and Deniz Undav also on the scoresheet - a performance that significantly boosts their attacking metrics. This result lifted Stuttgart level on points with Leverkusen and RB Leipzig, reinforcing their third-place credentials. 

Coach Sebastian Hoeneß appears to have a relatively healthy squad, with goalkeeper Alexander Nübel expected to start after returning to full training and Tiago Tomás back in contention. Leonidas Stergiou and Silas remain in longer-term recovery phases, while suspension rules might affect selection around Lorenz Assignon.

Union Berlin arrive in Stuttgart needing to end a run of inconsistent form. League placement sees them mid-table, still within reach of European competition spots if a strong second half of the season unfolds. Defensively, Union’s away form last year saw them boast one of the better records in the Bundesliga, but their goalscoring has lagged behind, with the side recording one of the lower goals-for tallies on the road compared with league peers (only 7 goals scored in 7 away fixtures in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign). 

On Thursday, Steffen Baumgart’s side salvaged a late point courtesy of an injury-time equaliser from Marin Ljubičić, scored moments after Union’s Derrick Köhn was sent off for a straight red card. The left wing-back is now suspended for the next round of fixtures, forcing manager Baumgart to seek an alternative replacement.

On the injury front, Union will be without Aljoscha Kemlein for the rest of the season, while Jerome Roussillon and Josip Juranović are sidelined with knocks, limiting defensive options for manager Baumgart. These absences could impact Union’s back line, particularly in transition, where Stuttgart have been most effective.