Borussia Dortmund vs Union Berlin Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Bundesliga 2025-26

Borussia Dortmund and Union Berlin are going to play a closely fought contest in the Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund take on Union Berlin at Signal Iduna Park this weekend, and the match will present a different challenge for both teams. Dortmund are currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, and their previous 3-3 draw against St. Pauli clearly highlighted their defensive problems. Coach Niko Kovač will now rely on the same aggressive pressing and possession-based game that earned them Champions League spots last season. 

Pascal Groß and Marcel Sabitzer will play key roles in midfield, while Serhou Guirassy will be the main goalscorer. However, Dortmund’s biggest problems are injuries, with Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle, and Emre Can unavailable. Things got worse when Filippo Mané received a red card on his debut. So the club have brought in Aaron Anselmino on loan to strengthen the defence. Now the question is how they will face Union Berlin’s strong defensive style amidst so many difficulties.

On the other hand, Union Berlin have started the season brilliantly and are currently in sixth place. Coach Steffen Baumgart has instilled confidence in the players, and his team often plays in a flexible setup of 3-5-2 or 4-4-2. Rani Khedira maintains balance in midfield, and captain Christopher Trimmel shows discipline throughout the match.

Andrej Ilic will be the most important player in the attack line, who scored a flurry of goals last season, and now, after Benedict Hollerbach’s move to Mainz, his responsibility has increased.

Even though playing at Signal Iduna Park is not easy, Union Berlin’s compact defence and fast counterattacks can create problems for Dortmund. Baumgart’s team have always solved problems with organised play, and this time too, their strength can be seen.

Kick-off:

• Location: Dortmund, Germany
• Stadium: Signal Iduna Park
• Date: Sunday, August 31
• Kick-off Time: 09:00 p.m. IST
• Referee: Daniel Schlager
• VAR: In use

Form:

Borussia Dortmund: D

Union Berlin: W

Players to watch out for:

Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund):

Serhou Guirassy will be Borussia Dortmund’s main target in this match as he scored in his first Bundesliga match of the season. His biggest strength is finding space in the penalty box and converting chances quickly. Guirassy’s physical presence keeps defenders under constant pressure, and his finishing adds edge to Dortmund’s attack.

Serhou ‘Man Of The Match’ Guirassy 🥱🏆 pic.twitter.com/1HTJcBmqSL

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) August 18, 2025

Ilyas Ansah (Union Berlin):

Ilyas Ansah will be the man to watch for Union Berlin in this match as he scored two goals in his first Bundesliga match of the season. His pace and forward thinking make the defence uncomfortable. Ansah controls the ball, creates space and finishes off the chances cleanly, giving Union Berlin’s attack a new edge.

Ilyas Ansah is here! Welcome to Köpenick!

— 1. FC Union Berlin (English) (@fcunion_en) June 6, 2025

Match Facts:

• Borussia Dortmund have won six of the last seven meetings against Union Berlin, including the last three in a row. This trend suggests a strong historical advantage for Dortmund.
• Union Berlin have won 57% of their last seven away matches, demonstrating their ability to perform well on the road.
• The last two encounters between these two teams produced a total of nine goals, suggesting that goals from both sides could be on the cards for this match.

Borussia Dortmund vs Union Berlin: Betting Tips and Odds:

• Borussia Dortmund to win: 1.56 as per 1xBet.
• Both teams to score: 1.75 as per Unibet.
• Total goals over 2.5: 1.67 as per Dafabet.

Injuries and Team News:

Nico Schlotterbeck (meniscus injury) and Niklas Süle (calf injury) will be sidelined from this game, along with Emre Can. Meanwhile, Filippo Mané is suspended due to a red card in the previous match. 

Midfielder Aljoscha Kemlei, Defender Livan Burcu, and S. Nsoki will be sidelined from this game for Union Berlin. O. Ogbemudia is questionable for this game along with Diogo Leite. Lucas Tousart is set to miss this game. 

Head-to-Head stats:

Total matches: 15

Borussia Dortmund won: 10

Union Berlin won: 4

Draws: 1

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Borussia Dortmund Predicted Starting Lineup (3-4-1-2):

Kobel; Anselmino, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Sabitzer, Groß, Svensson; Brandt; Guirassy, Adeyemi

Union Berlin Predicted Starting Lineup (3-5-2):

Rønnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Rothe; Trimmel, Khedira, Schäfer, Haberer, Skov; Ilić, Ansah

Match Prediction:

This game will be really tough for Borussia Dortmund, who are struggling with injury issues in the backline. Union Berlin are expected to frustrate them with their discipline, but still, we expect the home side to edge past due to their quality of players.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Union Berlin

Telecast Details

India: Sony LIV, Sony Sports Network

UK: Sky Sports, BBC, Amazon 

USA: ESPN+

Nigeria: StarTimes, Canal+

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