Union Berlin vs. Bayer Leverkusen – News and Probable Lineups

After achieving a Champions League win over Olympiacos, Bayer Leverkusen aims to further their top-four chase in the Bundesliga as they head to the capital to face Union Berlin.

Die Werkself is on an impressive streak with six victories in their last seven matches across all tournaments, while the Berlin side continues to look for their inaugural win of 2026.

Match overview

Union Berlin finds themselves in serious danger of getting swept into the relegation zone, having extended their winless streak to seven matches in the Bundesliga.

Last weekend, Die Eisernen lost 3-2 to Hamburgo SV, marking the third instance in four matches where they conceded three goals.

This outcome has left the team with only a six-point buffer above the relegation zone, and recent reports indicate potential issues within the club stemming from a disagreement between head coach Steffen Baumgart and one of his players.

The 54-year-old seemed to contradict Union star Aljoscha Kemlein during his post-match remarks, resulting in differing accounts regarding the recent defeat.

This week, Union has already dismissed their women’s head coach Ailien Poese, and Baumgart could find himself in a similar position if results do not improve in the coming weeks.

Bayer Leverkusen began 2026 with a rough patch, losing three consecutive matches. However, Die Werkself has bounced back and is currently on a seven-match unbeaten run, boasting six wins in that stretch.

Kasper Hjulmand and his squad are making solid strides across all fronts, having started the knockout phase of the Champions League with a win, reached the DFB Pokal semi-finals, and are also fighting for a top-four Bundesliga finish.

Currently, Leverkusen is just three points behind fourth-placed Stuttgart, so a win in this Bundesliga fixture could significantly bolster their aspirations.

One key factor in Leverkusen’s recent successes has been their strong defensive efforts, with Hjulmand’s team securing five clean sheets in seven matches while conceding only two goals.

Die Werkself aims to continue their strong defensive form as they seek to complete a double over Union Berlin, having already won 2-0 in the encounter last October.

Union Berlin Bundesliga form:

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Union Berlin form (all competitions):

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Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:

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Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):

W W W D W W

Team News

As Union Berlin heads into Saturday’s fixture, they face four injury concerns, including a couple of recent additions to their absentee list.

Defenders Diogo Leite and Josip Juranovic have both been sidelined due to thigh and calf injuries, and are expected to miss this weekend’s match.

Tom Rothe and Robert Skov are both recovering but are not ready to return to action yet.

Forward Andrej Ilic, who netted one goal against Hamburgo SV, is one booking away from suspension and will need to exercise caution.

Bayer Leverkusen also has injury worries, with three players currently unavailable.

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken continues to be sidelined with a knee injury and will not travel to the capital.

Midfielder Nathan Tella has been out since January due to a foot issue, while forward Eliesse Ben Seghir is dealing with an ankle injury.

Union Berlin probable starting XI:

Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Nsoki; Trimmel, Khedira, Kemlein, Kohn; Burcu, Ansah; Ilic

Bayer Leverkusen probable starting XI:

Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Aleix Garcia, Fernandez; Arthur, Tillman, Maza, Grimaldo; Schick

Union Berlin has experienced defeats in three of their last six home games, and it seems their poor form is likely to persist.

Bayer Leverkusen is riding a wave of impressive performance and should possess the quality needed to overcome their struggling rivals.