Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats and more
Union Berlin will host Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga fifth-tour match at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The fixture will take place on September 3, beginning at 19:00 IST.
All football fans simply love Saturdays, the day when all the domestic championships have their central games of the tour. The most entertaining and intriguing ones.
The Bundesliga is no exception – the match for first place between the dark horse, Union Berlin, and the absolute hegemon, Bayern Munich, awaits us. The fact that the Bavarians dominate the league is no surprise, but the phenomenon that yesterday’s representatives of 2.Bundesliga are stepping on the toes of the Reds right now is worth a closer look. In fact, those who follow the German league know that Die Eisernen are one of the most progressive teams in the world right now.
Will the daring home side be able to put up resistance to the decade-long champions? Parimatchnews will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.
Union Berlin News & Current Form:
The story of Union Berlin is another “Cinderella tale” in the world of football. That’s what long-term planning, consequential decisions, the wise use of resources and a bit of luck can do.
The Berlin club have never exactly set the world alight, and for most of their history they have been dwelling in the 2. Bundesliga. Moved things along gradually, with tremendous loyalty to the coaches, modest spending.
However, with the departure of Uwe Neuhaus in 2015 (who spent seven seasons at the helm), the club began a new chapter, seeking a transformation to evolve from a second-tier German championship mid-tabler.
Urs Fischer came to the metropolitan club after сouple of questionable seasons, having no prior experience in Germany. At the moment, the stars seemed to align – the former FC Basel 1893 coach was destined to lead the club to unprecedented heights.
Having produced a crazy 2018/2019 season with a decade’s best goal difference of +21, the Iron Ones set off to conquer the top flight. It was a tough first season in the Bundesliga, but the Berliners survived. And then Die Eisernen systematically began to improve: 19/20 – 11th place, 20/21 – 7th place, 21/22 – 5th place. And now, in the new campaign, they’re proving that sky’s the limit, taking 2nd place after 4 rounds. With 0-0 draw at Mainz, there came victories over Hertha (3-1), RB Leipzig (2-1) and Schalke 04 (1-6) in the last round.
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Success in Germany allowed the small club to play two seasons in a row in the European competitions: UEFA Conference League (could not get out of the group) last year, and this year, they will try their hand in the UEFA Europa League. This dynamism allows the club to attract more and more promising and ambitious players, as well as to earn money for the further development.
The capital club lives strictly within its means, the maximum spend during its existence occurred in the summer of 2021, when Taiwo Awoniyi arrived from Liverpool for €8.55m (insignificant sum by the standards of the current inflationist transfer market). The player, by the way, was resold to Nottingham Forest for €20.50m.
The funds were reinvested in a player of a similar profile – Theoson Pefok was bought from BSC Young Boys for €6m this summer (the second all-time record signing). There are high expectations placed on the American and so far he has fully lived up to them, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists in 4 games. Fantastic business from Union Berlin, applause for the club’s management and staff behind this.
Die Eisernen’s strongest weapon is the utmost chemistry and full understanding of the coach’s style and instructions, they are essentially a family of like-minded players. At home, with the support of their stands, they play amazingly, so the Bavarians should approach the match as cautiously as possible. The Berliners are in excellent form at the moment (maybe their best in history), aiming for the Champions League. They score a lot (11 goals) and concede as few as 3 in 4 games, only Bayern have been better in their numbers so far. Strong emphasis on defence comdined with lightning-fast transitions into attack that the Berliners finish clinlically represent the team’s trademark power – something not every opponent can handle.
Bayern Munich News & Current Form:
The German Machine are traditionally stable and every single football fan in the world knows everything about them. For 10 years, no German club has been able to break them down. And this is another summer where the Bavarians have successfully managed to add quality for reasonable money, worth noting the transfer of Sadio Mane for half the price of his transfer value. The Senegalese has already produced three goals in four games. This club is another example of excellent management and consistency in decisions, commitment to strategy and principles.
In fact, the Reds’ squad is worth 10 times more than their upcoming opponent (€846.53m vs. €89.30m). And many doubt that any optimistic outcome is possible considering such a contrast. Especially as the perhaps most talented young coach in the world, Julian Nagelsmann, is at the helm. You can be sure we’ll see more of him at Manchester City in the future.
However, der FCB have their setbacks too, for example they failed to beat Borussia M. at the Allianz Arena in the previous Bundesliga round. Star of the South also suffered setbacks against the club from Mönchengladbach last season – for example, 0-5 in the German Cup. And now, even after the summer break, Nagelsmann still couldn’t find a winning formula, in fact, his side managed to avoid defeat in Munich only by late goal by Leroy Sane in the 83rd minute. These results are shocking, given the hosts’ absolute dominance (22 shots on target compared to three from Borussia), they could barely snatched just a point. Yann Sommer, by the way, produced a tremendous goalkeeping performance in that match, making 19 saves, setting a Bundesliga record.
But still, it looks like an exception – on the whole, the current campaign has been solid for the Reds. They managed to beat RB Leipzig in the Super Cup with some spectacular football (5-3). Then came even more confident results: 6-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt, 2-0 with Wolfsburg, 7-0 with Bochum. Moreover, in the last game against Viktoria Cologne in the first round of the DFB-Pokal Nagelsmann gave a chance to reserves to show themselves. And they were convincing in achieving a classy 5-0 victory.
Special mention should be given to two individuals: firstly, Ryan Gravenberch, who scored a goal and an assist, and secondly, the 17-year-old French striker Mathys Tel, who was bought from Stade Rennais and scored his debut goal for Bayern. A very promising youngster who is worth keeping an eye on, although he is being slowly and carefully brought up to the big games.
Bayern approach the match with confidence and in great spirits while the manager is delighted that all the players are available. The Champions League starts next week, and after a little slip-up against Borussia, the German Machine is surely turned on and doesn’t want to mess up any more.
Union Berlin form guide (all comp.): W-W-D-D-W-W
Bayern Munich form guide (all comp.): W-W-W-W-D-W
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich Head-To-Head Record:
| Union Berlin | Draw | Bayern Munich |
| 0 | 2 | 4 |
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich Predicted XI:
Union Berlin possible starting lineup (3-5-2): Frederik Ronnow; Paul Jaeckel, Robin Knoche, Danilho Doekhi; Morten Thorsby, Christopher Trimmel, Janik Haberer, Rani Khedira, Julian Ryerson; Sheraldo Becker, Jordan Siebatcheu.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Alphonso Davies, Matthijs de Ligt, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard; Joshua Kimmich, Marcel Sabitzer; Ryan Gravenberch, Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman; Sadio Mane.
Statistical preview of the match Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich:
- The teams have played six matches between them in recent history with a goal difference of 5:15.
- The last two matches Bayern won by huge margins: 4:0 и 5:2.
- Neither Bayern nor Union has lost a single game this season.
- Union Berlin has scored and conceded in 9 of the last 10 home games.
- Bayern Munich have scored in each of their last 85 Bundesliga away games.
- Union Berlin have not won in each of their last 6 Bundesliga home games against Bayern Munich.
- Bayern Munich have not lost in 15 of the last 16 Bundesliga away games.
- Union Berlin have not lost in each of their last 9 home games.
What has been said before the match:
Urs Fischer, the Union Berlin gaffer:
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity, a great challenge. We will try to win the game. What will it take? Courage, a lot of courage. Not offering too much space in the game without the ball. But also with the ball. That’s where you need relief. Bayern is Germany’s best team, if not European or even worldwide.”
“Current positions are just a snapshot, it’s the 5th matchday. Our start was good. We’re trying to approach the game in such a way that we can win it. That’s really what it’s all about. We don’t bother with the fact that it’s a match for first place.”
The Swiss specialist has turned instrumental behind the fact that the club is experiencing perhaps the best times in its history
Julian Nagelsmann, the Bayern Munich gaffer:
“Union are doing very well even though they don’t have the best financial resources, certainly not in the top third of the Bundesliga. They make a lot of good decisions in terms of the coaching position and continuity. Urs Fischer has the necessary calm in certain situations. The sports management makes a lot of good transfers. You can compare them to Freiburg. A prime example is defender Robin Knoche, who came from VfL Wolfsburg in 2020, he wasn’t on the list for all the top clubs, but now he’s doing exceptionally well.”
he praises the Berliners.
“They have creative ideas. They don’t play complicated football, they play simple and straight. They often defend deep, very compact. They have a good transition game, good pace, good physicality, great fans, a good one stadium – always with a great choreo and creative ideas to support the team. So it is difficult to play there, but it’s doable. We’ll try our best.“
Julian at the Friday’s pre-match press conference
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Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich Prediction:
Union will be extremely focused and disciplined. They have now picked up a great momentum and are showing attractive football. The teammates understand each other perfectly, the team remains flexible making it easy to adapt to every situation and opponent. What may pose a problem for the visitors is the Berliners’ ability to defend deeply and compactly. The match against Borussia showed that Bayern sometimes cannot break through these kinds of trench barricades. Moreover, this tendency is not an isolated incident, as it is how Villarreal CF managed to sensationally knock out the German Machine in the last Champions League.
As Julian Nagelsmann has said on the eve of the match, their UEFA Champions League opponents, Inter, tactically play very similarly to Union. On the one hand, this match will be a test before an important encounter in Europe. On the other hand, Inter’s staff will be analyzing this match crust to crust regardless of the result – this will be some kind of convenient up-to-date cheat sheet for the Italians. There is a balance to be struck here between 3 factors at once: saving energy, achieving a positive result, and masking secret set-ups and tactics. We are expecting a tight match with an exchange of goals and a minimal-margin win for the visitors.
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Parimatch News staff prediction:
We say: Bayern to win and both teams to score – Yes.