Union Berlin vs Bayer Leverkusen

Stadion An der Alten Försterei is the venue as Union Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen lock horns in their 2021/22 Bundesliga curtain-raiser.

Max Kruse’s stoppage-time heroics on the final weekend of last season propelled Union Berlin to a stunning seventh-place finish, ensuring European football for only the second time in the club’s history. Dubbed the ‘surprise package’ of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season, Union Berlin will be keen to prove they are not a ‘one-season wonder,’ as they look to claim their first Matchday 1 win since returning to the top tier three years ago (L2). Notably, though, the ‘Iron Ones’ bounced back from last season’s Matchday 1’s home loss to go unbeaten in the remaining 16 Bundesliga matches at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei (W8, D8). Having won this exact fixture 1-0 back in 2020/21, Union Berlin will be looking to equal the club’s longest home winning streak in the Bundesliga by adding a fourth straight win to the tally.

On the other hand, experienced Bundesliga campaigners Bayer Leverkusen will be targeting their first top-flight crown since making their competition debut in 1979/80. Despite never suffering relegation in their 42 Bundesliga campaigns so far, last season’s sixth-place finish is unlikely to inspire Die Werkself’s hopes of ending Bayern Munich’s reign of dominance in Germany. Indeed, Gerardo Seoane’s men have already succumbed to nine Bundesliga defeats in 2021 so far, almost as twice as in the entire 2020 (5). The visitors head into proceedings aiming to snap a five-game winless away league streak (D2, L3), their longest run without a victory on the road since March 2013. Yet, five wins in seven competitive H2Hs overall (D1, L1) should give them enough confidence to pull that off.