Union Berlin Fighting for Survival vs Freiburg
Final Day Union Berlin vs Freiburg Odds Favor Hosts
Freiburg Playing for Europa League Spot
Saturday’s match between Union Berlin and SC Freiburg is one of the few final day Bundesliga games that are consequential for both sides. Hosts Union find themselves in the Relegation Play-off spot, in 16th place but may be able to escape if they win. Meanwhile, eight-placed Freiburg could finish as high as seventh with a win, which may be enough for a Europa League spot. Both teams will fight for all three points on Saturday but the Union Berlin vs Freiburg odds currently favor Union. We’ll take a closer look at both sides’ chances in our betting preview.
Union Berlin vs SC Freiburg
Location: Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin, Germany
Day/Time:
Union Berlin vs SC Freiburg Head-to-Head:
The Bundesliga scores in this fixture have more often favored Union Berlin. Die Eisernen have lost just one of their last seven matches vs. SC Freiburg. In this season’s reverse fixture, the two sides played to a scoreless draw in Freiburg. The prematch Union Berlin vs Freiburg odds priced a draw at +235. Freiburg have never defeated Union on the road in a league fixture and Union Berlin took down Freiburg 4-2 at the Alten Försterei last season.
Union Berlin: From UCL to Fighting Relegation
Union Berlin had a chance to relegate FC Köln last weekend and finish no lower than 16th but squandered it. Leading 2-0 with goals from Robin Knoche and Kevin Volland, Union conceded a penalty to Köln just before halftime. Late goals from Steffen Tigges and Damion Downs sunk Union and took the relegation battle to the final Matchday. Union are three points ahead of Köln, who are in 17th, and Union have the better goal difference.
If Union Berlin wins, they’ll be completely safe if VfL Bochum or Mainz lose. Should Union draw, they’ll finish in 16th and contest the Relegation Play-off vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf. A loss and a Köln win would mean automatic relegation comes down to goal difference. Union are currently three goals ahead and if there’s more than a three-goal swing, they’ll go down to the 2. Bundesliga. It’s been a brutal season for Union, who started out in the Champions League. Union failed to win a UCL match and they’re winless in their last seven Bundesliga fixtures as well.
Die Eisernen have dropped three straight at home and have the league’s third-worst home record, at 6-2-8. Their leading scorer is left wing back Robin Gosens, with six goals, and they’ve gotten very little from their strikers this season. On Saturday, Christopher Trimmel and Kevin Vogt are listed as doubtful. Rani Khedira is suspended and Jerome Roussillon is out injured.
Freiburg Struggling to Score Goals
Outgoing Freiburg manager Christian Streich coached his last home game for the club last weekend. Ritsu Doan’s diving header from a Christian Gunter cross put Freiburg ahead vs. Heidenheim in the 29th minute. However, Heidenheim equalized before halftime and the match finished 1-1. Freiburg had the bulk of the chances in the match but wasn’t exactly clinical in front of the goal.
With the draw, Freiburg dropped one place to eighth in the Bundesliga table. If Freiburg win on Saturday and Hoffenheim loses to Bayern Munich, Freiburg will clinch a berth in UEFA competition for a third straight season. If Freiburg draw or lose that could still be the case if Bayer Leverkusen win the DFB-Pokal and other results this weekend go Freiburg’s way.
Heading into this match, Freiburg have drawn three of their last four games. They’ve also won just one of their last six and scoring has certainly been an issue. Freiburg have found the net just five times in their last six matches and rank 11th in the Bundesliga this season in scoring. Injuries and suspensions are also affecting Freiburg’s European push as Kiliann Sildillia is suspended. Meanwhile, Manuel Gulde, Merlin Rohl, Philipp Lienhart and Matthias Ginter are all out injured.
Union Berlin vs Freiburg Analysis & Odds
While Union Berlin (UCL) and SC Freiburg (UEL) both participated in European competitions this season, there’s a decent chance neither are playing in a UEFA competition next season. If Union Berlin loses, they might be headed down to the second tier for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Here, the Union Berlin vs Freiburg oddsprice Union as +115 favorites.
Both teams are in poor form but Union has been losing more often than not lately. No team has picked up fewer points than Union’s one from their last five matches. Blowing a two goal lead last weekend could also end up being a morale killer. However, Union are known to have some of the best fans in the league and the home support will be completely behind them on Saturday.
Freiburg come in as +240 underdogs to get a rare road victory in Berlin. A draw (+245) would at least be enough for Union to avoid automatic relegation and for Freiburg to secure eighth place. Bettors can find Union Berlin pk, -0.5 at -120 and Freiburg pk, +0.5 at even odds. Union have conceded 12 goals in their last four games alone but both over and under 2.5 goals are priced at -110 odds.
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