Bayern Munich will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome Union Berlin to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
A rare midweek Bundesliga game beckons us, with Bayern Munich and Union Berlin playing a delayed fixture. The two clubs will lock horns at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening, with both teams eager to return to winning ways.
Bayern Munich will head into Wednesday’s clash on the back of a shock defeat at home to Werder Bremen. The reigning Bundesliga champions have blown hot and cold this season, with Bayer Leverkusen running away in the title race. The latest setback has left Bayern seven points behind Die Werkself, although they have a game in hand.
As for Union Berlin, the Iron Ones have struggled to hit the heights of the 2022/23 season thus far this term. The visitors have won only four of their 16 Bundesliga games this term, with the poor performances dropping them to 15th in the league standings, with relegation a possibility.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Bayern Munich cruising to a 3-0 win over Union Berlin. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Player to Watch
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Union Berlin on Wednesday, the Bayern Munich manager will be bereft of the services of five first-team players.
Serge Gnabry is the most notable absentee, with the German international recovering from a hamstring injury. Gnabry accompanies Tarek Buchmann (thigh) and Bouna Sarr (knee) in the treatment room.
In addition, Kim Min-jae is with South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup, while Noussair Mazraoui is representing Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. The duo’s absence has impacted the backline, especially the right-back berth.
Konrad Laimer should start as the makeshift right-back, with Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt pairing up at the heart of the defence. Alphonso Davies should complete the numbers in the defensive quartet, with Manuel Neuer taking his spot between the sticks.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich in the double pivot. The duo will look to run the show from the middle of the park. Meanwhile, Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, and Thomas Muller should form a fluid trifecta behind central striker Harry Kane.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, de Ligt, Davies; Goretzka, Kimmich; Muller, Musiala, Sane; Kane
Union Berlin
Unlike his counterpart in the Bayern Munich dugout, Nenad Bjelica barely has any roster issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Allianz Arena. The Union Berlin manager will be without only two first-team players on Wednesday.
Rani Khedira is recovering from a calf injury, and this midweek’s game might have come too soon for him. Meanwhile, Aissa Laidouni is at the Africa Cup of Nations representing Tunisia.
Union Berlin will line up in a 3-1-4-2 formation against Bayern Munich, with Frederik Ronnow taking his spot between the sticks. Robin Knoche, Kevin Vogt, and Diogo Leite should form the central defensive partnership. Meanwhile, Josip Juranovic and Robin Gosens will be the two wing-backs.
The duo will provide the width in the final third and share the creative burden. As for the midfield unit, Alex Kral will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park, with Janik Haberer and Brenden Aaronson providing the forward thrust. Finally, Kevin Volland and Kevin Behrens should be the two strikers for Eintracht Frankfurt against Bayern Munich.
Probable Lineup (3-1-4-2): Ronnow; Knoche, Vogt, Leite; Kral; Juranovic, Haberer, Aaronson, Gosens; Volland, Behrens
Key Stats
- Union Berlin are yet to beat Bayern Munich in eight attempts in the Bundesliga (D3 L5) – the only team the Irons have faced in more than one season at this level without claiming victory.
- Bayern Munich had been on a Bundesliga record run of 65 home games in which they had scored before blanking against Werder Bremen on Sunday.
- Union Berlin have earned more points in four games under Nenad Bjelica (seven) than in the first 11 of the campaign under Urs Fischer (six).
- Jamal Musiala has five goals from his last six Bundesliga starts, having failed to score in 2023/24 before the end of October.
- Harry Kane is currently tied with Robert Lewandowski for most goals in a Bundesliga Hinrunde (both 22). One more here for the England captain will see him break that record.
Player to Watch
Leroy Sane
Harry Kane is on the cusp of history and will be under the spotlight on Wednesday. But we have picked Leroy Sane for this section as the Bundesliga champions look to return to winning ways and keep pace with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the standings.
The German international has been excellent thus far this season, contributing to 20 goals in 26 games. But he has found the back of the net only nine times and should bolster those numbers to support Kane better. Doing so will mean Bayern Munich will spread the goals and minimise the chances of more upsets.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 2-1 Union Berlin
A long streak ended as Werder Bremen beat Bayern Munich over the weekend. Union Berlin will have the chance to add to Die Roten’s woes while ending another long-standing run. The Iron Ones have never beaten Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, and they will be eager to end their duck.
While the visitors will give the Bundesliga champions a run for their money, they might fall short in the end. Expect Harry Kane and Leroy Sane to rise to the occasion, with Kane making history by finding the back of the net on Wednesday. The Hard Tackle predicts Bayern Munich to beat Union Berlin 2-1 this midweek.
