Stuttgart vs Union Prediction 18 January 2026
🔊 Can Stuttgart avenge their first-round defeat? The second round kicks off for the "Swabians" after a successful home match on Tuesday against Eintracht, while Union played two days later and barely managed to secure a point from Augsburg. Stuttgart are particularly strong at the "MHP Arena," but the capital club arrives with a four-match unbeaten streak. Recent encounters between these teams have been high-scoring affairs. In our prediction, we share insights on this Sunday showdown.
Head-to-Head
📊 In the first round of the current season at "An der Alten Försterei," Union defeated Stuttgart 2-1. The hero of the match was debutant Ilyas Ansah, who scored a brace to secure the victory for the hosts. It was only four minutes before the end of regular time that Tiago Tomás managed to pull one back.
Head-to-head statistics Stuttgart - Union
Stuttgart Team Overview
⚪ Stuttgart have kicked off 2026 with back-to-back victories against direct rivals in the race for European competition. First, the Swabians thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 away, and on Tuesday, they clinched a 3-2 home win over Eintracht Frankfurt, thanks to a late goal by Nicolas Nartey in the 87th minute. Ermedin Demirović, returning from injury, and Deniz Undav, who netted his 10th league goal, also got on the scoresheet. Undav now stands second in the top scorers' list.
🔴 After 17 rounds, Sebastian Hoeneß's side have accumulated 32 points-more than in 12 of their last 13 Bundesliga seasons. They share the same points as third-placed RB Leipzig, but the Red Bulls boast a superior goal difference and have a game in hand. Their lead over nearest rival Hoffenheim, who also have a game in hand, is just two points. Stuttgart need to defeat Union to maintain their spot in the Champions League zone. They've won 6 out of 8 home matches in the league, losing only to Bayern Munich (0-5) and drawing with Hoffenheim (0-0).
Match Results: Stuttgart
Union Team Overview
⚫ The capital team, playing with ten men, scored in stoppage time to salvage a draw in their away match against Augsburg (1-1) on Thursday. Union conceded during first-half stoppage time but struck back with a late equalizer, courtesy of substitute Marin Ljubičić. He had previously rescued a draw for the "Iron Ones" in a match against Mainz (2-2). Left-back Derrick Köhn was sent off in the 89th minute for a rough challenge.
🔴 The Berliners remain unbeaten in their last four matches and, after 17 rounds, have accumulated 23 points-the same as eighth-placed Freiburg, though they trail the "Brazilians of Breisgau" on goal difference. Nevertheless, this standing allows Union to maintain an 11-point cushion from the relegation zone and trail the top six by just six points. Even if they drop points in Stuttgart, the "Iron Ones" will retain their position in the table, as they hold a four-point advantage over tenth-placed Gladbach.
Match Results: Union
Latest news
Stuttgart
🎙️ Sebastian Hoeneß on the clash with Union: "Union Berlin blend individual skill with experience. They defend physically and compactly, and they know how to transition quickly into attack. Steffen Baumgart is a very seasoned coach, having a stable and successful season with his team. Beating them won't be easy."
📝 Defender Leonidas Stergiou will spend the rest of the season at Heidenheim. The 23-year-old's contract with Stuttgart runs until June 30, 2028.
❌ Bilal El Khannouss will not participate in Sunday's match as he's helping the Moroccan national team in the final of the home African Nations Cup against Senegal. Also sidelined due to injuries are Dan-Axel Zagadou, Luca Mack, and Tiago Tomás. Ameen Al-Dakhil missed the previous game due to illness, and his participation in the upcoming match remains uncertain.
Union
🎙️ Steffen Baumgart on the match in Augsburg: "In the end, we're satisfied with the result. We played a very strong first half where we should have taken the lead. Then Augsburg managed to score an incredible goal. In the second half, we had two or three opportunities to equalize, and under certain circumstances, we could have even won. Despite the red card, the team kept pushing and eventually got what they deserved. This is very important for us."
❌ Derrick Köhn is suspended for two matches. Robert Skov, Tom Rothe, Tim Skarke, and Dmitry Bogdanov remain sidelined due to injuries.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
The match at the "MHP Arena" will be officiated by Deniz Aytekin, who has averaged 4.3 yellow cards in his last 10 matches. The "Swabians" average 1.9 cautions per match after 17 rounds, while the "Iron Ones" average 2.2. We're opting for over 3.5 yellow cards-this outcome has occurred in Stuttgart's last seven home games consecutively.
⚽ Goal Prediction
Stuttgart have netted 32 goals in 17 rounds, ranking fourth in the league. Union have scored in nine consecutive matches, making it reasonable to consider the option both teams to score (yes), which has been successful in the last three head-to-head encounters between these sides.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Stuttgart are tied for second with Bayern in average corners taken after 17 rounds, with 5.8 per match. Union share fourth place with Hoffenheim, St. Pauli, and Dortmund at 5.1. Looking at their head-to-head history, we choose under 9.5 corners, which has hit in 12 of the last 13 matches between these teams.
Editorial Prediction
Union Berlin remain the Bundesliga team with the lowest ball possession rate, averaging just 41%. However, this isn't a problem for the "Iron Ones," as they excel at capitalizing on their limited chances effectively. The visitors will likely rely on quick counterattacks and set pieces.
Stuttgart, on the other hand, rank third in the league for ball possession (55%) and will focus on control, pressure, and positional attacks. The hosts have won six out of eight home games and surely remember their first-round defeat. We predict a Stuttgart victory, though it won't come easily-expect a scoreline of 2-1. An additional advantage for the "Swabians" could be their physical condition, as they had two extra days for preparation and recovery ahead of the Sunday match.
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Betting Tips: Stuttgart - Union
in 7 of last 8 home games against Union.in 10 of last 11 home games.in 8 of last 9 home games (Bundesliga).
in 10 of last 11 Stuttgart games against Union (Bundesliga).in 6 of last 7 Stuttgart games against Union.in 14 of last 15 Stuttgart games.in 6 of last 7 Stuttgart home games.in 6 of last 7 Union games.
in 12 of last 13 Deniz Aytekin games.in 7 of last 8 Deniz Aytekin games (in the Bundesliga).in 6 of last 7 home games against Union.in 18 of last 20 games (Bundesliga).
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