Preview: Union Berlin vs Stuttgart - prediction, team news, lineups

Stuttgart's 2025-26 Bundesliga campaign begins on Saturday when they face hosts Union Berlin at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.

Union's 13th-placed finish last term saw them end the campaign three places and eight points above the division's relegation playoff spot, while Stuttgart ranked ninth but qualified for the Europa League thanks to their DFB-Pokal triumph in May.

Match preview

The home side's points tally of 40 was seven more than they mustered in 2023-24, but their total still fell significantly short of the 62 points they accumulated in 2022-23.

Boss Steffen Baumgart oversaw a 5-0 victory against FC Gutersloh in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on August 15, scoring as many goals in that match as they did in their last four games of 2024-25.

Die Eisernen also conceded 11 times in their final five outings of last season, though their overall record of 51 goals conceded in the Bundesliga made them the joint second-best defensive side in the bottom 11.

Union drew four, lost one and won just one of their closing six fixtures of the previous campaign, a period that included a 4-4 stalemate with Stuttgart on April 19.

Baumgart's side were the 11th best team at home in 2024-25 in terms of points collected (22), but they failed to triumph in 12 of their 14 most recent Bundesliga outings at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, losing on six occasions.

Stuttgart finished with 50 points, and while it was their second-highest total in their past six Bundesliga campaigns, it was still 23 fewer than they ended 2023-24 with.

Die Roten were beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup final on August 16, a game in which they squandered a number of opportunities in the final third.

The visitors are unbeaten in their past five meetings with Union, winning four matches in that time, and 13 goals were scored in their two clashes last term.

Stuttgart's loss against Bayern ended head coach Sebastian Hoeness's streak of four consecutive competitive victories, and they have now conceded at least twice in their three most recent fixtures excluding friendlies.

Hoeness's team were the joint fourth-best side away from home in 2024-25 - they collected 27 points - and they did win three and draw one of their final four games on the road.

Union Berlin form:

Stuttgart form:

Team News

Union will have to make a change in goal given shot-stopper Frederik Ronnow is dealing with a concussion, and his injury makes Matheo Raab certain to deputise.

Key centre-backs Danilho Doekhi and Leopold Querfeld are available, and the duo could be joined in a back three by Tom Rothe.

Defensive midfielder Rani Khedira is set to marshal a midfield three, while forwards Andrej Ilic and Ilyas Ansah may start in a front two.

Meanwhile, Stuttgart have no injury concerns heading into the weekend, so there is no reason to doubt Luca Jaquez and Julian Chabot's inclusion in the heart of defence.

Angelo Stiller will be responsible for conducting his side's buildup from midfield, and he is likely to be partnered by anchor Atakan Karazor.

Deniz Undav was frequently selected in attack last term, and the forward could play alongside striker Nick Woltemade.

Union Berlin possible starting lineup:

Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Rothe; Trimmel, Schafer, Khedira, Haberer, Skov; Ilic, Ansah

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Nubel; Vagnoman, Jaquez, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade

We say: Union Berlin 1-2 Stuttgart

Stuttgart boast a strong record against Union Berlin, and they will be confident of securing three points on Saturday.

The hosts were excellent away from home in the final stages of 2024-25, while Union were poor at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, so the visitors will be favourites.

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