Leaky Union welcome a Dortmund side looking for a reaction
Union are 16th with four points and a goal difference of 5-17, but they won their first league game of the season last weekend, 1-0 against Elversberg. Dortmund are second with 13 points, but they threw away a 2-0 lead against Bremen and then lost 1-0 at Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 15:30, with Daniel Schlager the referee. The game is at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday, 17 October 2026, in round six of the Bundesliga.
„Wir spielen gegen einen Gegner, der auf dem zweiten Tabellenplatz steht. Alle wissen, wie stark sie sind.“ – Union coach Mauro Lustrinelli
Predicted lineups: Union Berlin vs Dortmund
Union are without Andrik Markgraf (cruciate ligament) and Stanley N’Soki, while Josip Juranović, Andrej Ilić and Marvin Friedrich are also missing according to kicker. Emmanuel Latte Lath is a doubt; if he is fit, he could replace Skarke. Dortmund are without Emre Can and Giannis Konstantelias (both cruciate ligament injuries) and Justin Lerma. Nico Schlotterbeck, rested in Bodø, is expected back, but kicker expects Niko Kovač to rotate again after the trip to the Arctic Circle.
1. FC Union Berlin Team News & Preview
Union went into the international break 17th after a 7-0 defeat at Bayern, with the league’s leakiest defence according to kicker. Against Elversberg they looked much more solid. Lustrinelli made three changes, including a debut for Kastriot Imeri, and Union were the more active side before substitute Livan Burcu’s deflected long-range shot won it in the 81st minute.
Lustrinelli called it a small step in the right direction. Union’s record against Dortmund in Köpenick is also strong: Dortmund have lost four of their seven Bundesliga games there.
What works for or against Union
- First league win and first clean sheet against Elversberg.
- Dortmund have lost four of seven Bundesliga visits to Köpenick.
- 17 goals conceded in five league games.
- Juranović, Ilić and Markgraf are all missing.
Borussia Dortmund Team News & Preview
Dortmund controlled the Bremen game and led 2-0 after 85 minutes, then let the lead slip in the final minutes. In Bodø on Wednesday, kicker said Kovač’s rotated side slept through the first 55 minutes. They only came to life after Sjøvold’s goal and a quadruple substitution, with Nwaneri, Nmecha and Guirassy all forcing saves.
Dortmund have still scored at least twice in four of their five league games and are unbeaten in the Bundesliga. A win here would match the club’s best-ever start of 16 points from six games.
What works for or against Dortmund
- Unbeaten in the league, with two or more goals in four of five games.
- Joint-best defence with four goals conceded.
- Played in Bodø on Wednesday night.
- Two games without a win, against Bremen and Bodø.
Union Berlin vs Dortmund Odds
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Both Teams to Score
Union Berlin vs. Dortmund Stats Comparison
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Union Berlin vs. Dortmund Form Guide
Union Berlin Form, Stats & Data
Union score one goal per game and concede 3.40. The 7-0 defeat at Bayern skews those numbers, but they also conceded four at Leverkusen and three against Schalke before keeping their first clean sheet against Elversberg.
Dortmund Form, Stats & Data
Dortmund score 2.2 goals per game and concede 0.8, the joint-best defence in the league. The goals are spread around: Nmecha, Guirassy and Fábio Silva have two each.
Union Berlin vs Dortmund: Prediction & Betting Tip
Union’s record at the Alten Försterei and the fact that these sides never draw make the result harder to call than the table suggests. I prefer Dortmund’s goals. They have scored twice or more in four of five league games, and Union have conceded 17 goals in five, three or more in four of them. One clean sheet against Elversberg does not change that.
The obvious danger is Dortmund’s recent form in front of goal. They scored only twice in 85 minutes of dominance against Bremen and failed to score in Bodø, and with kicker expecting more rotation after Wednesday’s trip, the attack may not be at full strength. Union also looked much tighter last weekend. I still think Dortmund’s quality will produce at least two goals.
My selection is Dortmund over 1.5 team goals at 1.50 with Winz, with 1-3 as my correct-score call.