Bayern Munich will face Union Berlin as the heavy favourites for their DFB-Pokal clash on Wednesday.
Union Berlin welcome Bayern Munich to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei for the second time in a month, with both clubs aiming to book their place in the fourth round of the DFB-Pokal. Union stand as one of only two teams all season who have succeeded in halting the Bayern juggernaut, but the prospect of doing it again, this time in knockout football, presents a far greater challenge.
Union Berlin’s cup journey began with a commanding victory over FC Gutersloh before they edged past last season’s finalists Arminia Bielefeld after extra time. The reward for that hard-fought progression is a rematch with the 20-time Pokal winners, Bayern Munich.
Just a few weeks ago in the Bundesliga, Steffen Baumgart’s side came agonisingly close to inflicting Bayern’s first defeat of the season, only to concede a stoppage-time equaliser from Harry Kane. Yet even that heartbreak carried historic value: Union Berlin were the team that ended Bayern’s unprecedented 16-match winning run across all competitions.
Despite their excellent start to the campaign, Union Berlin’s confidence was dented last weekend when they fell to a surprising 2-1 home defeat against relegation-battling FC Heidenheim, a reminder that consistency remains their biggest obstacle.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, responded well to their Champions League setback against Arsenal by swatting aside St. Pauli in the Bundesliga, extending their advantage at the top of the league. Vincent Kompany’s side already look firmly in control of the title race with an eight-point cushion, but expectations at Sabener Strasse extend far beyond domestic league success.
With Die Roten having gone five years without lifting the DFB-Pokal, a drought by their standards, the pressure is growing on Kompany to deliver a serious run in the competition. Their last final appearance came in the pandemic-affected 2020 edition, when they defeated Bayer Leverkusen behind closed doors at the Olympiastadion.
Victories over Wehen Wiesbaden and FC Koln have already paved Bayern’s path to this point. Now, they return to the capital seeking revenge for the recent draw and aiming to avoid another tense evening against a Union side who have already proven capable of testing them this season. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Union Berlin
Union Berlin enter this DFB-Pokal showdown with a couple of notable absences. Danish forward Robert Skov remains out with a muscle injury that has kept him sidelined since September, and there is still no definitive timeline for his return.
Young centre-back Andrik Markgraf is also unavailable as he continues his recovery from a leg injury; the 19-year-old has not featured in competitive action at all this season. Union Berlin have no suspension concerns heading into the match against Bayern Munich, but their depth in attack and defence remains stretched.
In terms of tactical approach, Union Berlin are expected to line up in their familiar 3-4-2-1 structure under Steffen Baumgart, a system that prioritises defensive solidity, wing-back progression and aggressive transitions. Frederik Ronnow will start in goal, protected by a back three of Diogo Leite on the left, Leopold Querfeld in the central role, and Danilho Doekhi on the right side of defence.
On the flanks, Derrick Kohn is likely to operate as the left wing-back, with Christopher Trimmel providing experience and width on the right. The midfield pivot should consist of Aljosha Kemlein and captain Rani Khedira, whose job will be to disrupt Bayern’s circulation and protect the defensive line.
Further forward, Ilyah Ansah and Jeong Woo-yeong are expected to support the attack as dual inside forwards, linking transitions and providing creativity in the half-spaces. Leading the line will be the powerful striker Oliver Burke, whose pace and physical presence will be vital against Bayern’s defensive unit.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ronnow; Leite, Querfeld, Doekhi; Kohn, Kemlein, Khedira, Trimmel; Ansah, Jeong; Burke
Bayern Munich
Die Roten arrive in the capital with a squad still managing a handful of injury concerns, though Vincent Kompany has been encouraged by the return of several key figures in recent weeks. The major absentees remain Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala, both of whom continue to recover from their respective problems.
While neither is expected to feature at Union Berlin, both are close to resuming full training and could rejoin the matchday squad later this month. Bayern have no suspensions for this DFB-Pokal tie, but the coaching staff will remain cautious with rotation given the demanding run of fixtures ahead.
Kompany made several changes in the Bundesliga win over St. Pauli, and a few of those rotated players may be rewarded with another starting opportunity. Chief among them is 17-year-old prodigy Lennart Karl, who has burst into the first team with remarkable confidence, contributing three goal involvements across his last three appearances, including a composed finish in the UEFA Champions League against Arsenal. His emergence has added a dynamic new dimension to Bayern’s attacking lines.
Bayern Munich are expected to deploy their familiar 4-2-3-1 system against Union Berlin. Jonas Urbig should retain his place in goal, backed by a defensive line consisting of Tom Bischof at right-back, Jonathan Tah and Kim Min-jae forming the central pairing, and Konrad Laimer at left-back.
In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlovic will partner Joshua Kimmich in the double pivot, combining youthful energy with elite distribution and defensive discipline.
The attacking midfield trio is likely to feature Luis Diaz drifting inside from the right, Lennart Karl operating centrally as the No. 10, and Raphael Guerreiro offering creativity from the left. Leading the line will, as ever, be Harry Kane, whose goalscoring form and link-up play remain fundamental to Bayern’s entire attacking structure.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Urbig; Bischof, Tah, Kim, Laimer; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Diaz, Karl, Guerreiro; Kane
Key Stats
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Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their last 12 competitive meetings with Union Berlin, winning eight and drawing four. Union’s last and only win against Bayern came back in the early 2000s in a friendly, not a competitive fixture.
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Union Berlin have scored just two goals in their last six matches across all competitions.
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Bayern Munich have won 16 of their last 17 matches in all competitions, with the only exception being the recent draw against Union themselves in the Bundesliga, the only side to halt the Bavarian club’s winning streak this season.
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Harry Kane has scored ten goals in his last nine appearances for Bayern Munich.
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Bayern Munich have reached the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal in 15 of the last 18 seasons.
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
Harry Kane enters this DFB-Pokal clash in the kind of form that makes him impossible to ignore. The England captain has settled into German football with staggering ease, becoming the focal point of Bayern Munich’s attack and one of the most decisive players in Europe this season.
Kane’s movement between the lines, combined with his world-class finishing, makes him an ever-present threat against a Union Berlin side that thrives on defensive organisation but often struggles when forced to defend deep for extended periods. His ability to drop into midfield, link play, and release Bayern’s wide runners also gives Vincent Kompany’s team a multidimensional edge in possession.
Beyond his build-up influence, Kane’s presence in the box remains lethal. With Bayern expected to control the ball and create sustained pressure, the Englishman should have numerous opportunities to impact the match, whether through his trademark first-time finishes, aerial dominance, or clever combinations with the likes of Luis Diaz or teenage breakout star Lennart Karl.
Given his recent scoring streak and his established reputation as a big-game performer, Kane is unquestionably the player most likely to tilt the tie Bayern Munich’s way at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
Prediction
Union Berlin 0-3 Bayern Munich
Union Berlin have already shown this season that they can frustrate Bayern Munich, their late defensive stand in the Bundesliga meeting proved that Steffen Baumgart’s side are capable of digging in and denying even the most fluid attacks. However, repeating that performance in a knockout setting is a far more demanding task, especially given their dip in form following the shock defeat to Heidenheim.
Bayern, meanwhile, appear to have stabilised after their loss to Arsenal, responding with a professional, composed league win over St. Pauli. With Vincent Kompany rotating sensibly while maintaining a strong core, the Bavarians travel to Berlin with renewed confidence and significantly more firepower than the hosts, even with Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala sidelined.
Union Berlin’s defensive structure and home crowd will make this competitive for stretches, but Bayern Munich’s superior depth, technical quality, and the presence of a clinical finisher like Harry Kane should ultimately prove decisive. The visitors’ ability to generate consistent pressure and create high-quality chances will likely wear down the home side over the course of the match.