Did Polanski make the most of the break?

Borussia Mönchengladbach took decisive action during the international break and presented Rouven Schröder as their new sporting director. The experienced official is moving from the RB empire to the Lower Rhine and succeeds Roland Virkus, who has stepped down. The first decision the 49-year-old has to make concerns the coaching position. Eugen Polanski was allowed to wield the scepter on an interim basis.

If the former professional is to become a permanent solution, he must continue to gather arguments in his favor. For example, on Friday evening with a good result at the Alte Försterei. Between Union Berlin and Gladbach, a bet on the visitors to win would bring a peak return of 3.20.

On paper, the Foals are considered underdogs in the capital. This is certainly due primarily to the fact that Borussia, second from bottom in the standings, is still waiting for its first win in the current Bundesliga season. Meanwhile, Union Berlin has four more points to its name and has earned four of its seven points at home.

However, since mid-April, Köpenick have only won one of their last six Bundesliga home games, so it would undoubtedly be risky to predict a win for Steffen Baumgart’s team between Union Berlin and Gladbach.

Instead, there are several indications that Friday evening’s Bundesliga matchday 7 opener is unlikely to be particularly spectacular. The capital club has failed to score in 50% of all league matches, while the visitors from the Lower Rhine have failed to score in four out of six games. This makes the odds on under goals all the more interesting ahead of the Union Berlin vs. Gladbach clash.

Union Berlin vs. Gladbach AI prediction

Artificial intelligence also expects a balanced match. The xG values of 1.43 for Union Berlin and 1.38 for Gladbach are almost identical. This results in a 37.5% probability of victory in favor of Gladbach, whose odds therefore offer value! Instead of 2.67, which according to “BETSiE” should be the odds for an away win, Interwetten is even offering attractive odds of 3.10 for Union Berlin vs. Gladbach AI prediction on Borussia.

Union Berlin – Statistics & current form

With Oliver Burke, Ilyas Ansah, and Tom Rothe, Union Berlin has only had three different goal scorers so far this season. This trio has already scored eight goals. Only three other clubs have scored less frequently than Die Eisernen, including their upcoming opponents from Mönchengladbach. Berlin currently has seven points, putting them in 13th place, but a home win on Friday evening could see them jump to seventh place overnight.

Union Berlin does not like being the favorite

However, when looking at the Union Berlin vs. Gladbach prediction, it must also be taken into account that Baumgart’s team failed to score in their last two games, losing 2-0 in Leverkusen and drawing 0-0 at home against HSV. They have already had three goalless draws in the first six matchdays. To make matters worse, no other team has a lower average percentage of possession and has played fewer passes in total. Nevertheless, their pass completion rate of 71% is the lowest in the league.

This suggests that the Köpenick team has problems breaking down a well-organized opponent. Plan A is to create transition moments from a compact defense. Long balls and set pieces are additional weapons, but opponents can usually deal with them effectively.

I am therefore convinced that a home game against Gladbach will be more complicated for the Red and Whites than an away game in Frankfurt (4-3) or at home against VfB Stuttgart (2-1). It is therefore quite possible that we can expect a similar game to the goalless draw against Hamburger SV. Between Union Berlin and Gladbach, the betting odds on a maximum of one goal for the home side are therefore also of interest.

Gladbach – Statistics & current form

Gladbach could not have had a much worse start to the new season. The team from the Lower Rhine has only three points to its name so far. It was only thanks to a better goal difference that the traditional club handed the red lantern to 1. FC Heidenheim two weeks ago. Nevertheless, the bitter reality is that they are in 17th place.

First Polanski victory at the fourth attempt?

However, Eugen Polanski’s team has shown a slight improvement in form. Borussia has scored points in two of three games under the reserve coach, who made a difference as a mentality player during his active career. At home against Freiburg (0-0) and in Leverkusen (1-1), the former German champions proved that they have stepped up their defensive game. This is especially true when compared to their embarrassing 4-6 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in front of their home crowd.

Offensively, however, things are still not going well. They failed to score in four of six Bundesliga games. An offensive festival is therefore not necessarily to be expected on Friday evening in Berlin. This is especially true because Kleindienst and Hack, the two most important attackers, are still out with injuries. On the other hand, Honorat and Reyna are likely to return to the squad. Once again, Polanski’s approach will be to win lots of tackles, stay solid at the back and keep a clean sheet for as long as possible.

Union Berlin – Gladbach Head-to-head record

In the Bundesliga, Union Berlin has only celebrated more victories against 1. FC Köln and Mainz 05 than against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Six of the twelve encounters in the German top flight went to the Ironers, who last prevailed against their upcoming opponents in 2023. In the last three duels, however, Borussia has recorded seven out of a possible nine points. Last season, they won the away game at the Alte Försterei (2-1) as well as the home game in the first half of the season (1-0). Also worth knowing: Only in three of the twelve Bundesliga encounters was the over 3.5 broken.

Union Berlin – Gladbach Tip

Only once in Bundesliga history has Borussia Mönchengladbach had as few points after six matchdays as it currently does. In 2015/16, however, the Foals’ season took a turn for the better and the Lower Rhine club finished the season in a strong fourth place. The BMG management team around new sporting director Rouven Schröder would certainly not be opposed to a repeat of events. However, after 13 consecutive Bundesliga games without a win across two seasons, they will have to set their sights a little lower for now.

On Friday evening, I don’t necessarily see the Foals as underdogs at the Alte Försterei. Union may have four more points to their name, but Borussia have performed better defensively recently, with the exception of their 4-6 defeat to Frankfurt. Both teams are struggling considerably in attack, which is why I have ultimately decided between Union Berlin and Gladbach to bet that Polanski’s team will not lose and that there will be no more than three goals after 90 minutes. I’m betting four units on Oddset’s 2.30 odds. If you think the visitors will lead 1-0 at halftime, you can even get 2.95 at Betano.