Union Berlin vs Real Madrid Odds, Prediction | Soccer Picks
NurPhoto/Getty. Pictured: Vini Jr.
Union Berlin vs Real Madrid Odds
| Union Berlin Odds | +300 |
| Real Madrid Odds | -120 |
| Draw | +300 |
| Over / Under | 2.5 -175 / +135 |
Union Berlin and Real Madrid are set to clash in the final round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Los Blancos have already clinched the top spot in Group C and will be hoping to finish off a perfect round-robin campaign with a road win on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Union Berlin's first time in the Champions League has not panned out the way they hoped. They are in last place in the group and have yet to pull out a win.
However, if they can upset the Spanish powerhouse and get the help they need from Braga, they will snag a spot in the Europa League knockout round playoffs.
Read on for my Union Berlin vs Real Madrid Champions League prediction.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin are in this competition due to finishing fourth in the Bundesliga last season, automatically securing their spot in the Champions League. However, this is no longer a team playing like a top side in Germany's top flight.
They are currently 15th in the Bundesliga, barely staying atop the relegation line thanks to a slightly less worse goal differential from the teams below them. Berlin are desperately searching for answers on how to get back out of the poor spell, and one way they are trying to do that is by bringing in a new coach. In the final days of November, Berlin assigned Nenad Bjelica to manage the team.
The Croatian manager has seen positive results in his first two matches in charge. His side earned a 1-1 away draw against Braga and then went on to defeat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in league play. That was Berlin's first win dating back to August 26.
To keep that momentum going, they will need even more than a coach boost and hope that his vision for organized, active and dominant play will fit his current lineup against a talent Madrid side. Thankfully, Berlin have some positive trends on their side when it comes to Madrid's away form against German opposition. The Madrista's have lost 20 of their last 35 matches to German teams.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid are the most successful team in Champions League history, and it is not even close. They have won the competition 14 times, last doing so during the 2021–22 season. However, more history could be made on Tuesday if they were to pull out all three points.
A win against Berlin would give them a perfect six-for-six record in the group stage. It would be just the third time they have achieved such an accomplishment.
Despite the gap of points between these two sides in the group table and opposite form in league play—Madrid are second in La Liga—this will not be a walk in the park for Carlos Ancelotti's side. They barely snuck out a victory against Berlin in the reverse fixture thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Jude Bellingham.
And now, with Madrid already clinching the first seed in their group and likely planning on resting players, just that small difference in motivation can make a huge difference in professional soccer outcomes.
Still, Madrid set the bar to win this competition every year and have players that can come off the bench for them and beat most teams in Europe.
Union Berlin vs Real Madrid
Prediction
On paper, Madrid should easily win this game, even if they rotate players, but as we know, the game isn't played on paper. And even before Madrid had the group clinched, they struggled against this Berlin side at home.
Now that they are on the road, where they have lost eight of their last 25 Champions League outings and have nothing to play for, it is fair to expect a couple of offensive and defensive lapses.
Meanwhile, this is a must-win for Union Berlin; they should be able to at least find the back of the net at least once. The thing is, Madrid have too much talent that they should be able to find the back of the net as well, despite who they send out on the pitch.
Take both teams to score with the juice in this spot.
Pick: Both Teams to Score — YES (-160 via FanDuel)
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