Union Berlin vs TSG Hoffenheim

Union Berlin and TSG Hoffenheim are set to trade tackles in their 2023 Bundesliga opener at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

The World Cup break came at the best possible moment for Union Berlin as they were going three Bundesliga matches without winning (D1, L2), falling out of the top four for the first time this season. Level on points with fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, Union’s bid to do one better than last season’s fifth-place finish is still alive and kicking. Much of that effort rests on their sublime home form, with Urs Fischer’s men remaining one of three sides yet to lose a single Bundesliga home game this term (W5, D2). Hoffenheim’s visit to the capital could throw that run into disarray, at least based on their perfectly balanced top-flight H2H record in Berlin (W1, D1, L1).

In the meantime, Hoffenheim must have been grateful for an extended mid-season break after suffering four defeats in five Bundesliga fixtures on the stroke of the World Cup halt (D1). Hoffenheim’s problems with inconsistent performances on the road have seen their seven away league matches in 2022/23 fluctuate between different outcomes (W2, D2, L3). Only four points clear of the relegation zone, the visitors head into proceedings desperate to improve on a thoroughly underwhelming return of one win across their last nine Bundesliga outings (D3, L5). But after keeping just one clean sheet on their previous five league travels, that looks unlikely.