Union Berlin vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Where to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

Borussia Dortmund face a tricky trip to Union Berlin on Friday evening, as caretaker boss Edin Terzic looks to make it two wins from two having replaced Lucien Favre after the 5-1 thumping by Stuttgart on Saturday

His side beat Werder Bremen 2-1 on the road on Tuesday evening after a Marco Reus winner. However, Union will likely prove a sterner test for the struggling Dortmund side, who are in danger of falling out of the title race before Christmas if their form does not pick up.

The side from the capital sit sixth in the table and could move within a point of Dortmund with a win. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this one.

Where to Watch

When Is Kick Off? Friday 18 December
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Stadion An der Alten Försterei
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport 1

Team News

Union Berlin remain without their star man Max Kruse, who had scored six goals and provided five assists in only ten matches before a muscle injury.

Urs Fischer's team are also without long-term absentees Anthony Ujah and Joel Pohjanpalo, who are sidelined with knee and ankle problems respectively.

Dortmund are still adjusting to life without Erling Haaland, who picked up a muscle injury at the start of December. 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko stood in to deputise against Werder Bremen, and will likely get the nod again.

Terzic's side will also be missing Thomas Delaney, Marcel Schmelzer and Thomas Meunier, although the latter is expected to return within a fortnight. Hummels was subbed off towards the end of the game on Tuesday but Terzic declared it 'nothing major'.

Predicted Lineups

Union Berlin: Luthe; Trimmel, Friedrich, Knoche, Gießelmann, Lenz; Griesbeck, Promel, Teuchert; Awoniyi, Becker.

Borussia Dortmund: Burki; Morey, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Bellingham, Witsel; Sancho, Reus, Brandt; Moukoku.

Recent Form

Union Berlin have delivered a mightily impressive start to only their second campaign in the top flight, after promotion in 2019, recently holding Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw where they had chances to win the game.

A capitulation in the last six minutes against Stuttgart on Tuesday saw them blow a 2-0 lead, but Fischer's side are certainly not showing any sings of being intimidated by the big boys. Those two draws do however mean that they are without a win in four.

Dortmund's win against Werder was their first in four, and they will be looking to build on it by closing the gap on the league leaders. Reus and Jadon Sancho will both have to pull their weight in the absence of goal machine Erling Haaland, who will be missing for the remainder of 2020.

Anything other than a win here could see Terzic's side practically out of the title race; they could be nine points off top if Bayer Leverkusen beat Bayern Munich on Saturday evening. Terzic will be keen to stake his claim for the job on a permanent basis if he impresses during his caretaker role.

It has been a consistently inconsistent last five games for both teams...

Union Berlin

VfB Stuttgart 2-2 Union Berlin (15/12)
Union Berlin 1-1 Bayern Munich (12/12)
Hertha 3-1 Union Berlin (4/12)
Union Berlin 3-3 Eintracht Frankfurt (28/11)
FC Koln 1-2 Union Berlin (22/11)

Borussia Dortmund

Werder Bremen 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (15/12)
Borussia Dortmund 1-5 VfB Stuttgart (12/12)
Zenit 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (8/12)
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Borussia Dortmund (5/12)
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Lazio (2/12)

Prediction

Even without the highly influential Kruse, Union Berlin have shown they can be a handful against the very top sides in the Bundesliga.

Dortmund can expect a tough test here and would do very well to come away with three points considering some of their high-profile players still missing.

Prediction: Union Berlin 1-1 Borussia Dortmund