Borussia Dortmund’s comfortable second-place cushion faces a stern test at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei this Saturday, where Union Berlin lie in wait. With only seven points separating BVB from the Champions League scramble, can the hosts capitalize on Dortmund’s fragile away form?
Table of Contents
Union Berlin vs Dortmund: Match Essentials
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, January 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Stadion An der Alten Forsterei, Berlin |
| Competition | Bundesliga |
| Union Position | 9th (24 points) |
| Dortmund Position | 2nd (39 points, 7 ahead of 5th) |
| Union Form | 5 games unbeaten (3 draws) |
| BVB Away Record | Winless in 5 of last 6 |
Union’s Resilient Run Masks Concerns
Steffen Baumgart’s Union Berlin enter this clash riding a five-match unbeaten streak, though three consecutive draws reveal their current limitations. Die Eisernen have mastered the art of late drama—scoring equalizers in the final 10 minutes during their last three outings—but their inability to find winners is troubling.
The 1-1 draw with Stuttgart extended their resilience, yet they’ve kept just one clean sheet in eight matches. More worryingly, Union have scored the fewest goals (24) of any top-10 team, netting just once in six of their last nine Bundesliga fixtures.
Home Fortress Crumbling
Stadion An der Alten Forsterei has lost its intimidating aura—just one victory in their last six home matches, including two defeats. For a side sitting five points adrift of sixth-placed Conference League qualification, dropping points against vulnerable opposition could prove devastating.
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Dortmund’s Fragile Advantage
Niko Kovac’s BVB scraped past St Pauli 3-2 via a 96th-minute penalty after surrendering a 2-0 lead—a concerning pattern for a title challenger. Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Tottenham, albeit with 10 men after Daniel Svensson’s first-half red card, exposed defensive vulnerabilities.
Yet Dortmund’s attacking prowess remains undeniable. They’ve opened the scoring in 16 of 18 league matches (division high) and netted exactly three goals in their last three Bundesliga outings. The reverse fixture produced a comfortable 3-0 victory—their fifth win in six encounters with Union.
Away Day Blues
BVB’s Achilles heel is their away form—winless in five of their last six road trips. While suffering only two defeats during that spell, their inability to secure victories away from Signal Iduna Park keeps the chasing pack within striking distance.
Team News
Union’s defensive options are stretched with Derrick Kohn suspended and Tom Rothe injured. Christopher Trimmel and Josip Juranovic will likely flank a three-man central defense.
Dortmund miss only Marcel Sabitzer through injury. Jobe Bellingham and Felix Nmecha should anchor midfield, protecting a back three, while Serhou Guirassy leads the attack supported by Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt.
Match Prediction
Union Berlin 1-2 Borussia Dortmund. Despite their away struggles, BVB’s superior quality and attacking firepower should overcome Union’s resilient but toothless hosts. Expect another late equalizer scare before Dortmund’s class tells.
FAQs
Why are Borussia Dortmund struggling away from home despite sitting second?
Defensive fragility on the road—winless in five of six away games—combined with a tendency to surrender leads, as seen in the St Pauli near-collapse, undermines their quality.
Can Union Berlin realistically trouble Dortmund given their poor scoring record?
Unlikely. With just 24 goals (fewest in top 10) and only one goal scored in six of their last nine matches, Union lack the firepower to exploit BVB’s away vulnerabilities consistently.
