Bundesliga: New Upstarts, Berlin Head to Leipzig

RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin

RB Leipzig have been shaking up the Bundesliga for the last five seasons but they’re about to meet a new agitator when Union Berlin visit on Wednesday.

It’s a big game for both sides as they battle for places, RB Leipzig are in the second position while their visitors are in fifth. In only their second season in the top flight Union Berlin are up among the Bundesliga elite and they look like they belong, so the Red Bulls will be keen to take them down a peg or two.

There’s plenty for SBOTOP football fans to get their teeth into this week, with top league matches in England, Spain and Germany, and this one between RB Leipzig and Union Berlin could be a cracker.

Talking Points

Red Bulls’ solid foundations

Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig took the league by storm last season with a swashbuckling side and prolific goal scorer in Timo Werner, but they fell just short. This term, while the goals have continued to come, RB Leipzig are tougher to break down and have conceded the fewest, 14, in the league.

The news that centre back Dayot Upamecano might be available at the right price has alerted a host of top European clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, but I suspect Nagelsmann would rather keep hold of his defensive rock for his team to sustain a challenge for the title.

Following the departure of Werner last summer, the goals have been shared around this term, Yussuf Poulsen has four, as does defender Angelino, while Emil Forsberg has weighed in with three goals.

With a four-point lead, the Bundesliga 2021 betting tips will continue to back FC Bayern for a record ninth consecutive title, but second-placed Leipzig aren’t about to give up the chase just yet.

Can RB Leipzig win the Bundesliga title this season? — RB Leipzig forward Yussuf Poulsen dribbling past Borussia Dortmund defenders

Union Berlin continue to amaze

Head coach Urs Fischer was in charge for the 2018/19 season which culminated in Union Berlin being the first club from the former East Berlin, and the fifth from East Germany, to make the Bundesliga top flight.

An 11^th place finish last season was a very decent outcome and in this campaign, Fischer has guided his team up to fifth place with seven wins, seven draws and just two defeats from 16 games. In only its second season in the top flight, this is an exceptional set of Bundesliga 2021 results.

Union Berlin’s incredible run has continued with a 1-0 win over title hopefuls Bayer Leverkusen, and those three points lifted Fischer’s side up to fifth place and just a single point behind Bayer in third.

Union Berlin compares favourably with Leipzig in recent meetings with two top sides. Both drew 2-2 with Wolfsburg, but while Nagelsmann’s side lost to Borussia Dortmund last time out at the Red Bull Arena, Fischer recently guided his team to a 3-1 victory over BVB.

But Berlin are still without their talisman, Max Kruse, who scored six goals and made four assists in the first ten games before sustaining a muscle injury in December.

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Bundesliga

History

RB Leipzig were the last team to emerge from the old East Germany to make the top flight, with something of a bang, but Union Berlin arrived in different circumstances. While the hosts are in their fifth season in the Bundesliga, thanks to huge investment when they were founded in 2009, it’s been a long road for Union Berlin. With origins back to 1906, the club re-emerged in 1966 with its current name and joined the German League structure after unification in 1990.

Fischer’s appointment heralded Union’s rise to the top of the football pyramid and they show no signs of giving their place up.

These two teams have met on six occasions over the past six season’s and RB Leipzig have dominated the exchanges, winning four and drawing and losing one.

Leipzig did the double last season, triumphing 4-0 in Berlin on the opening day of the season before winning 3-1 at the Red Bull Arena in January last year.

With six wins, one draw and one defeat at home RB Leipzig are formidable opponents but with three wins, three draws and one defeat away, Union Berlin are no slouches either.

Betting Tip

	RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin	Over 2.75 @ 1.96
	January 21, 03:30 (GMT+8)

The fixtures are coming thick and fast here in the Bundesliga and these two teams are in action again on Saturday, so a midweek win is a big prize as both try to maintain momentum.

RB Leipzig are at 1.51 to win, with Berlin at 5.80 and the draw at 4.30, and although Kruse is out I think Union Berlin will still give the Red Bulls a tough examination. Seven of the last 12 games involving these teams have yielded three or more goals and I’m hoping to see an entertaining clash.