RB Leipzig vs Union Berlin Predictions

• Union have trailed at HT in five of their last six games and at FT in four of them
• Leipzig have scored the first goal in 23 of their 31 and are the only Bundesliga side yet to concede in the opening 15 minutes this season
• Yan Diomande scored his 12th Bundesliga goal for Leipzig last weekend

Diomande is doing the business

Red Bull Leipzig can make another fast start at home to Union Berlin in Friday night’s Bundesliga clash. Yan Diomande set them on course for a 3-1 away victory at Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday and they enjoy a five-point cushion over Hoffenheim in the race to secure a top-four finish.

Meanwhile, new Union head coach Marie-Louise Eta was unable to get off to a winning start against struggling Wolfsburg despite seeing her new team dominate the game.

Union racked up 27 shots on the Wolfsburg goal, which marks a new Bundesliga record for the club, and an expected goals (xG) value of 2.87 but still lost 2-1 at home.

Red Bulls’ energy can secure early lead

This match is likely to be a more testing affair all round with Leipzig unbeaten in all ten of their Friday-held Bundesliga home games (W8, D2) and bidding to win a fourth home game on the bounce. The Red Bulls have recorded more sprints than any other club in the Bundesliga and the third-most intensive runs while Union are in the bottom three for those physical categories.

Ole Werner’s side needed an 81st-minute Diomande winner to overcome Monchengladbach at home earlier this month, but early goals have usually been commonplace for them. Eight of their last 14 home goals have come before the break and they have still yet to concede in the opening 15 minutes of any league match this term.

Back the hosts to lead at half-time and full-time in this clash with a Union side that have trailed at the interval in five of their last seven Bundesliga games, going on to lose four of them.