Preview: Union Berlin vs Wolfsburg – prediction, team news, lineups

Stadion An der Alten Forsterei would be the backdrop for a historic second as Union Berlin host relegation-threatened Wolfsburg within the Bundesliga on Saturday, led by the primary-ever feminine supervisor in Europe’s prime 5 males’s leagues.

Die Eisernen need to get better from an embarrassing defeat final trip, whereas Die Wolfe are determined for factors to gasoline their survival hopes.

Match preview

After seeing Union lose 3-1 against bottom-of-the-table Heidenheim on April 11 – a outcome meaning they’ve gained simply two of their 14 league matches in 2026 – the membership’s hierarchy made the choice to half methods with Steffen Baumgart, and have appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim boss.

When the 34-12 months-previous grew to become Die Eisernen quantity two again in November 2023, she was the primary feminine assistant supervisor within the Bundesliga, and a few could recall that she led from the touchline throughout a 1-0 win against SV Darmstadt in January 2024, when then-chief Nenad Bjelica was serving a suspension.

Saturday’s conflict will break new floor within the males’s recreation, with Women’s Champions League-winner Eta – who had been working as Union’s Under-19’s head coach – turning into the primary lady to ever handle a males’s recreation within the prime 5 leagues.

Turning to the match itself, Eta talked about that Die Eisernen’s place within the Bundesliga for 2026-27 is ‘not but safe’, contemplating that the membership sit simply seven factors above St Pauli, who occupy the division’s relegation playoff spot.

With 5 video games remaining within the prime flight calendar, Union followers shall be cautious of the truth that their aspect have gained solely one in all their final six outings – a 1-0 victory over Freiburg on March 15 – to not point out that the hosts have triumphed simply as soon as on their very own turf in 2026.

It can also be essential to notice that the hosts have dropped 11 factors throughout their 5 most up-to-date video games, and given their type each on the street and at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Eta can have her work lower out to keep away from a tense near the marketing campaign.

© Imago / Darius Simka

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg’s tumultuous season appears set for a troubled end barring a minor miracle from Dieter Hecking – the membership’s third supervisor this time period.

Hecking was appointed again on March 8 after Daniel Bauer struggled at Volkswagen Arena, although the 61-12 months-previous has not been capable of flip issues round to date, shedding three of his first 4 video games in cost.

The boss kicked off his reign with an impressive 1-1 draw against high-flying Hoffenheim, however a succession of defeats since, together with a dramatic 6-3 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on April 4, have left the Die Wolfe seventeenth within the desk.

To make issues worse, Wolfsburg have solely accrued 21 factors thus far, a surprisingly poor return that has the membership seven factors wanting computerized security, and 4 shy of that includes within the relegation playoff.

With solely 5 video games to play, time is working out for Hecking, and contemplating that the guests have misplaced 5 and drawn two of their away clashes in 2026, they might wrestle on Saturday towards a aspect buoyed by the ‘new supervisor bounce’.

Union Berlin Bundesliga type:

Wolfsburg Bundesliga type:

Team News

© Iconsport / DeFodi Images

Union have a comparatively match squad to select from this weekend, although attacking midfielder Jeong Woo-yeong might miss out resulting from a knock, whereas left winger David Preu is sidelined via damage, and left wing-again possibility Robert Skov is a doubt with a calf damage.

If not one of the three can be found, Andrej Ilic and Oliver Burke might begin up prime, supported from out large by wing-backs Janik Haberer and Derrick Kohn.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Matheo Raab stays out after struggling a hand damage, although Frederik Ronnow ought to be prepared begin behind a again three of Danilho Doekhi, Leopold Querfeld and Diogo Leite.

As for Wolfsburg, they’ve an in depth record of absentees to deal with on Saturday, particularly in defence, the place they’re lacking centre-backs Cleiton Santos (ankle) and Jenson Seelt (knee), in addition to left-again Rogerio (knee), and proper-again Kilian Fischer (groin).

To fill the gaps, Konstantinos Koulierakis might rejoin Moritz Jenz and Jeanuel Belocian in Hecking’s defensive trio, whereas the returning Sael Kumbedi could begin at proper wing-again, reverse Joakim Maehle on the left.

In midfield, Bence Dardai is out for the season after struggling a cruciate ligament damage, whereas Mattias Svanberg is a doubt with a calf difficulty.

With that in thoughts, Christian Eriksen and Vinicius Souza look set to function within the centre of the park, platforming a entrance three of Mohamed El Amine Amoura, Dzenan Pejcinovic and Patrick Wimmer, whereas striker Jonas Wind offers with a thigh damage and proper winger Kevin Paredes builds health.

Union Berlin attainable beginning lineup:

Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite; Haberer, Schafer, Khedira, Kemlein, Kohn; Ilic, Burke

Wolfsburg attainable beginning lineup:

Grabara; Belocian, Jenz, Koulierakis; Kumbedi, Eriksen, Souza, Maehle; Wimmer, Pejcinovic, Amoura

We say: Union Berlin 2-1 Wolfsburg

Union have struggled for wins in 2026, however with a brand new supervisor on the helm, they might safe a uncommon victory on Saturday.

Wolfsburg shall be determined to keep away from a fourth consecutive defeat, however whereas they might put up a battle, something aside from one other loss can be shocking contemplating their type.

For knowledge evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.