Our prediction for this Bundesliga match:
There will be fireworks when Hertha Berlin and Union Berlin face each other in the local derby on Matchday 18. Hertha aim to recover from an embarrassing 5-0 loss to Wolfsburg, but they face yet another difficult task in Saturday’s showdown. All Ejuke, Jarstein, Jovetic, Kenny, and Nsona should miss out with injuries, while defender Agustin Rogel serves a one-game ban in the Berlin derby.
The visitors, on the other hand, kicked off 2023 in style, with the team beating both Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen, and given Hertha’s shaky defence, away win should definitely be considered. Morten Thorsby remains on the sidelines with injury, but the Norway midfielder should be the only absentee in the away team. In their last meeting at Olympiastadion Union Berlin rolled over their local rivals 4-1, and we predict that history is going to repeat itself.
Highlighted Player (Vladimir Darida):
Born in Sokolov on 8 August 1990, Vladimir Darida is yet another Czech Republic footballer who has made a name for himself in German Bundesliga, although not before leaving his mark on the domestic competition. The highly rated midfielder, who can successfully cover a number of positions in the middle of the park, enjoyed several successful years at Viktoria Plzen, making no fewer than 28 appearances in European competitions, before deciding to leave for SC Freiburg.
Darida performed so well in his first two Bundesliga campaign that he was purchased by Hertha Berlin when his previous employers got relegated to the second division, and he in turn helped the Olympiastadion outfit enjoy a thoroughly impressive campaign.
Darida was a surprise inclusion to the Czech Republic squad for the Euro 2012 finals, but there were no surprises when he played a key role to help Repre qualify for the Euro 2016 tournament. He impressed playing in a more advanced role in the absence of Tomas Rosicky, and he has already earned more than 30 caps for the national team.
Highlighted Team (Union Berlin):
Union Berlin are a German football club originally founded back in 1906. Die Eisernen play home games at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei which can hold up to 22,012 spectators. Union Berlin’s home kit is red, with the team wearing white shirts and white shorts on the travels.
Union Berlin finished the 1923 domestic campaign as runners-up, with the team suffering a 3-0 loss to Hamburger SV in the title game. Speaking of the club’s biggest success in the German Cup, die Eisernen made it to the final of the competition in the 2000/2001 season. Schalke, though, proved to be a big catch for Union Berlin in the decider, with Jorg Bohme scoring a brace for die Knappen (2-0).
Union Berlin will face their local rivals Hertha in the 2019/2020 Bundesliga season as they secured promotion to the German top flight, but Hansa Rostock are considered the club’s main rivals.