Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Bundesliga match.
Three days before beginning the defence of their German Cup title, Stuttgart open their Bundesliga campaign with a tricky trip to Union Berlin — never the easiest of assignments. Last season Stuttgart managed only ninth place in the league, while Union slumped to 13th.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin’s change of coach in early 2025, bringing in Steffen Baumgart, did little to alter their fortunes — they stayed around the same mid-table position. The final 10 rounds did show some improvement, with just one defeat, though five draws blunted their potential climb. At home in Köpenick the picture was similar: one win, one defeat and three draws. This summer they lost last season’s top scorer Benedict Hollerbach (nine goals), but crucially secured Serbian striker Andrej Ilic permanently from Lille after his loan. His numbers look sharper — seven goals in 16 games, averaging one every 135 minutes, compared with Hollerbach’s one per 296 minutes.
Stuttgart
Cup winners Stuttgart will play in the Europa League group stage — a step down after last year’s Champions League ties with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but still a strong stage. They could not keep hold of midfield star Enzo Millot, who moved to Saudi Arabia, though otherwise their squad remains intact. Reinforcements include right-back Lazar Jovanovic from Crvena Zvezda and winger Lorenz Assignon from Rennes, though the latter featured for only 10 minutes in the Super Cup against Bayern (1:2). That match was open and full of chances, with Stuttgart competing well but missing their opportunities.
Union Berlin vs Stuttgart Prediction
Union Berlin are more vulnerable opposition and this fixture has often produced goals — last season saw 3:2 and 4:4 thrillers. With Stuttgart attacking freely and Union capable of contributing, another high-scoring contest looks likely.
