RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin Prediction: Nusa to net again

Union Berlin’s winless run extended to four games (D1, L3) with 2-1 defeat at home to VfL Wolfsburg last Saturday, keeping Die Eisernen in the relegation picture, with their six-point lead on 16th-placed St Pauli at the beginning of gameweek 30 cut to five following Kiezkicker’s 1-1 draw with FC Koln.

On Friday (19:30 BST, BBC iPlayer), Union head to the Red Bull Arena, where third-placed RB Leipzig, closing in on a return to the Uefa Champions League, lie in wait. Read on for my RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin predictions, supported by team news and match odds.

Team News

Ezechiel Banzuzi, Viggo Gebel (both knee), Suleiman Sani (hip) and Leopold Zingerle (wrist) are out injured for RB Leipzig, while Willi Orban (thigh) and Lukas Klostermann (unspecified) are both doubtful of featuring on Friday.

Football Odds

Matheo Raab (hand), Jeong Woo-yeong (knock) and Robert Skov (muscle) are sidelined for Union Berlin.

RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin Odds

RB Leipzig are 1/3 favourites, implying a 75% probability of success, with Union Berlin 15/2, or an 11.8% chance, with the draw offered at 4/1.

Betfred's Price Boosts include Yan Diomande to Score & Assist at 7/1 (was 6/1).

Bet Builder Christoph Baumgartner (RBL) 2+ Fouls Committed & Oliver Burke (FCU) 2+ Shots @ 11/4

Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner is averaging two fouls per 90 in the Bundesliga this season.

The 26-year-old leads the Bundesliga foul charts with 53 in 29 appearances, and in December's 3-1 defeat to Union, he gave away two free-kicks.

Union's Ilyas Ansah is the league's 15th-most fouled player this season, having been upended 36 times in 29 appearances, averaging 1.9 fouls won per 90, so expect Baumgartner to be kept busy in the Leipzig engine room on Friday.

Today's Football Fixtures

Visiting forward Oliver Burke scored his fifth Bundesliga goal of the season in last week's loss to Wolfsburg, and he's averaging 1.9 shots per 90.

The 29-year-old has recorded 2+ shots in seven of his last nine games, and he's likely to let fly if given half a chance at the Red Bull Arena.

Anytime Goalscorer - Antonio Nusa (RBL) @ 23/10

Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa scored just twice in his first 24 Bundesliga appearances this season, but he's doubled his tally in his last three games, netting in wins at Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt.

With a World Cup on the horizon, the Norway international is coming into form at just the right time, and he'll be desperate to keep it going until the end of the campaign as he looks to lock down a starting berth in Stale Solbakken's side.

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