Bundesliga 26/27 · Round 6 ·
Union Berlin vs Borussia Dortmund preview: Union Berlin host Dortmund in a Bundesliga mismatch
Union Berlin welcome Dortmund to An der alten Forsterei with the two sides separated by nine points and twelve places after five rounds. The market prices Dortmund as clear favourites, and the season numbers point the same way: Dortmund hold a large edge in attack and defence.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats.
Who is missing
Union Berlin are without four players, including defender Josip Juranovic, who leads the side with two assists and is their only key absence. Dortmund also have four unavailable, with midfielder Emre Can and defender Nico Schlotterbeck among them. Schlotterbeck has scored one goal, 9% of the side's goals in this competition. Neither side is at full strength, but Dortmund's absentees have contributed less to their attack than Juranovic has to Union Berlin's.
Who carries the attack
Union Berlin's leading scorer is midfielder Tim Skarke with two goals in five matches, 40% of the team's total. Dortmund spread their goals more evenly: Fabio Silva, Felix Nmecha and Serhou Guirassy each have two, with Guirassy adding two assists. Guirassy is the most involved attacking player on either side, while Skarke carries a heavier share of his team's scoring.
Who arrives in better shape
Dortmund are second in the form table with 13 points from their last five league matches, a record of four wins and a draw. Union Berlin sit 16th with four points from the same window, one win, one draw and three defeats. Union Berlin have won their last two matches in all competitions, while Dortmund lost their most recent match. Dortmund have had seven days since their last match, Union Berlin just under three.
Where they sit
Dortmund are second with 13 points from five matches, unbeaten with four wins and a draw. Union Berlin are 16th with four points, one win, one draw and three defeats. At home Union Berlin have one win, one draw and one defeat from three matches, with a goal difference of minus one. Dortmund have won both away matches, scoring four and conceding two.
History between them
Across the last ten meetings, Dortmund have won eight and Union Berlin two, with no draws. The goal difference is 28-9 in Dortmund's favour. At this ground, the five meetings have been closer: Union Berlin have won two and Dortmund three, with Dortmund scoring nine goals to Union Berlin's four. The most recent meeting, in January 2026, ended 3-0 to Dortmund.
How dangerous each side is
Dortmund hold a large attacking edge. They score 2.0 goals per away match, better than the league average for an away side on the road of 1.47. Union Berlin score 1.7 goals per home match, worse than the league average for a home side at home of 2.36. Dortmund's away figure is higher than Union Berlin's home figure, and the gap to their respective baselines is clear in both cases.
Who keeps it tighter
Dortmund hold a large defensive edge. They concede 1.0 goals per away match, better than the league average conceded by an away side on the road of 2.36. Union Berlin concede 2.0 goals per home match, worse than the league average conceded by a home side at home of 1.47. Dortmund's away defence is the strongest part of this matchup, while Union Berlin's home defence is a clear weakness.
Who works the keeper harder
Dortmund average 6.0 shots on goal per match, Union Berlin 5.4. Dortmund also see more of their shots blocked, 4.4 per match against Union Berlin's 3.4. Dortmund's higher possession, 53.6% against 44.8%, supports their greater shot volume. The gap in shots on target is modest, but Dortmund are the more active side in both measures.
When the goals come
Union Berlin score 80% of their goals in the 76-90 minute window, their clear peak. Dortmund score 45% of their goals in the same window, also their most dangerous spell. Union Berlin concede most often in the 61-75 minute window, 24% of goals against. Dortmund's conceding is spread across the second half, with 50% in the 76-90 window.
The goal environment
Union Berlin's matches have gone over 2.5 goals in 80% of cases this season, Dortmund's in 60%. Union Berlin's home matches have gone over 2.5 goals in 67% of cases, against 100% of their away matches. Dortmund's away matches have gone over 2.5 goals in 50% of cases. Both sides are second-half scorers, with Union Berlin's matches averaging 3.67 goals at home and Dortmund's 3.0 away.
How this match shapes up
Dortmund are the better side on every measure that matters: attack, defence, form and head-to-head. Union Berlin's home record is respectable, but their defence concedes more than the league average and their attack scores less. Dortmund's away form is strong, with two wins from two and a defence that concedes just one goal per match. The market prices Dortmund as clear favourites, and the season numbers support that read.