Happy hosts Hamburg can inflict first league defeat on Union Berlin

Bundesliga 2
BT Sport 1, 7.30pm Monday

Hamburg’s 55-year stay in the Bundesliga came to an end last season but they have adapted well to life in the second tier and can showcase their title credentials with victory over fellow highflyers Union Berlin.

A draw will be good enough for Hamburg to replace Cologne at the top of the pile but they look value to go one better than that and inflict a first defeat of the season on third-placed Union Berlin.

Although the visitors remain unbeaten, eight of their 13 league games have ended all-square and their unbroken record is simply unsustainable.

Five of their six outings on the road have finished level, four of which have come against bottom-half opposition, and their sole success was a narrow 2-1 win at rock-bottom Ingolstadt.

The Iron Ones are going to find things much tougher from now on and they may be travelling to Hamburg, who have dropped just two points in their last five games, at the wrong time.

Hannes Wolf’s men are beginning to find their feet in the Bundesliga 2 and a 1-0 win over pace-setting Cologne in their most recent home outing highlights their big-match mentality.

They won the shot-count 23-11 on that occasion and with former Leeds man Pierre-Michel Lasogga spearheading their attack, and Lewis Holtby pulling the strings in midfield, another dominant display could be on the cards.

Hamburg have kept three home clean sheets on the spin, while Union Berlin have failed to fire in two of their last four league matches, and the current four-point gap between the pair may slightly flatter the visitors.

Recommendation
Hamburg
2pts Evs bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes

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