bayer leverkusen faces union berlin in pivotal bundesliga clash
Berlijn, zaterdag, 21 februari 2026.
bayer leverkusen travels to berlin seeking to maintain pressure on the bundesliga’s top four. they sit six points clear of union berlin, who haven’t won since december and remain winless in 2026. kasper hjulmand’s side arrives with momentum, fresh off a historic 2-0 champions league win at olympiacos—leverkusen’s first ever away knockout victory in europe. patrik schick needs one goal to become the third-highest scorer in leverkusen’s history. union berlin struggle at home, losing four of their last seven. despite aerial strength and fighting spirit under steffen baumgart, they haven’t beaten leverkusen since 2021. both teams rely on set-pieces and physicality. leverkusen aims to exploit transitions, while union seeks relief through long balls. every point counts in the race for european football. this duel carries weight beyond the standings.
leverages form and firepower
Bayer Leverkusen enters the match with confidence following a 4-0 victory over St. Pauli and a 2-0 win against Olympiacos in the Champions League [2]. The latter marked their first-ever away knockout victory in the competition, ending a streak of seven losses in nine such fixtures [2]. Currently sixth in the Bundesliga, they trail fourth-placed Stuttgart by three points, keeping hopes alive for European qualification [2]. Their attacking efficiency is evident—they’ve scored 16 goals within the first 30 minutes of matches, second only to Bayern Munich [2]. This early pressing strategy aligns with manager Kasper Hjulmand’s emphasis on controlling tempo from kickoff [2].
struggles persist for union berlin
Union Berlin remains without a win in 2026, extending their winless run to seven league matches (four draws, three defeats) [3]. Since defeating Hoffenheim in December 2025, they’ve failed to secure maximum points, slipping further from mid-table security [3]. At home, their form is particularly concerning—only one victory in their last seven outings at Stadion An der Alten Försterei [3]. They average just 0.9 shots per game, among the lowest in the league [4]. Once known for defensive resilience, they now rank poorly in attack, struggling to convert possession into meaningful chances [4]. Manager Steffen Baumgart continues to deploy a 3-4-2-1 system focused on physical duels and long-ball transitions [1][4].
key players and statistical edges
Patrik Schick stands on the verge of a personal milestone—he has scored 71 Bundesliga goals for Leverkusen, needing just one more to surpass Herbert Waas and become the club’s third-highest scorer [2]. His ability to finish quickly was crucial in recent victories, including the decisive strike in a 2-1 win over Union Berlin in November 2024 [2]. On the opposing side, Leopold Querfeld reaches his 50th Bundesliga appearance, having surprisingly doubled his career goal tally with two strikes in consecutive games [2]. Despite Union’s struggles, they dominate aerial battles better than most clubs, ranking second with 496 duels won this season [2]. However, Leverkusen averages superior ball progression metrics, recording 1 dribble and 1 assist per game compared to Union’s 0.4 and 0.9 respectively [4].
tactical battle and historical imbalance
Historically, Union Berlin holds minimal advantage over Leverkusen, having won just once in their past 13 encounters—a 1-0 home victory in January 2021 [2]. Since then, Leverkusen have claimed four wins in five meetings, including a 2-0 triumph in the reverse fixture [3]. The upcoming match reinforces a pattern where Union concedes first and subsequently fails to recover—this season, they’ve lost seven and drawn four of eleven games after trailing initially [3]. Leverkusen capitalizes on transitional moments, exploiting spaces left by opponents committed to long-ball attacks [2]. While Union maintains discipline in aerial defense, their low tackle rate (1 per game) suggests limited disruption in midfield phases [4]. Both managers emphasize set-piece execution, though Leverkusen shows greater clinical edge in converting these opportunities [2][4].