Union Berlin – Werder Bremen

The Bremen club will not lose in the capital by more than one goal difference

In addition to the championship affair, which has survived the final matchday in the Bundesliga, at least eight other clubs are highly motivated in the tournament ahead of the 34th round. These include Union Berlin and Freiburg, who will go into the final games of the season in absentia to determine the winner of fourth place, making them eligible for the next Champions League tie. Before Saturday's opening whistle, which will be blown simultaneously in all encounters in the tourney, the capital club have the edge over their rivals on goal difference. With 59 points each, Union Berlin and Freiburg managed to score the same number of goals - 50 each. However, Urs Fischer's side have conceded four fewer goals, which looks like a good margin in the current situation. Werder have returned to the elite German division this season after a one-year 'secondment' to the Second Bundesliga. In this respect, twelfth place and no risk of relegation are reasons for the musicians to be in high spirits now. Bookmakers have identified the home side as the favourites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 1.43 on their victory. Union Berlin can be considered one of the main openings of the current season. In addition to their progressive play in the Bundesliga, the Berlin side reached the Europa League 1/8 finals and the German Cup quarter-finals. That said, Fischer's men have lost their usual level of play since the beginning of March, which was the reason for their shaky position before the last round. In their last fifteen official matches, the Bundesliga top-four side have won only four. Only one in five of Union Berlin's matches during this period resulted in a win by two or more goals. Fischer's side are also unstable. Victory over Freiburg, a direct rival, in the round before last was replaced by defeat at the hands of modest Hoffenheim. Werder, in good spirits, will be perfectly fine to "play dirty" in the capital. Despite the fact that the Bremen club has lost their last four head-to-head encounters with their upcoming opponents, their players have absolutely nothing to lose right now. In May, Werder lost to Bayern and Leipzig by one goal difference. They are unlikely to lose in Berlin by a more convincing margin.