Bayern Strikes
Fansided

Four things to watch out when Bayern Munich face Union Berlin

By Kiran Thakare

MUNICH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 26: Sebastian Andersson of FC Union Berlin and Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and 1. FC Union Berlin at Allianz Arena on October 26, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - OCTOBER 26: Sebastian Andersson of FC Union Berlin and Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and 1. FC Union Berlin at Allianz Arena on October 26, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – MARCH 3: Coach Hansi Flick of Bayern Munchen during the German DFB Pokal match between Schalke 04 v Bayern Munchen at the Veltins Arena on March 3, 2020, in Gelsenkirchen Germany (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – MARCH 3: Coach Hansi Flick of Bayern Munchen during the German DFB Pokal match between Schalke 04 v Bayern Munchen at the Veltins Arena on March 3, 2020, in Gelsenkirchen Germany (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Change in system

In the game against Paderborn, Bayern played in different formation as Flick heavily rotated the team. The outcome of that game went in Die Roten’s favour, but they came close to dropping points as it was a narrow 3-2 win.

Lucas Hernandez and Javi Martinez have returned to complete fitness, so Flick will have enough quality and depth in the defensive department. He will have the option to revert back to a three at the back system to give opportunities to other defenders and rest the likes of Jerome Boateng and David Alaba.

Apart from three at the back Bayern can also play a back four and decide to pack the midfield as likes of Goretzka, Mickael Cuisance, and Corentin Tolisso also need playing time. Since there are very few options in the department, Flick can only afford to change players in midfield and defense.

Flick will rely on his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation in big games, but Saturday’s game provides him to experiment a bit. This will help him to have more tactical flexibility when he comes up against a big European club in the next round of the Champions League. So, change in the system will be one of the important things to watch out for in the clash against Union Berlin on Saturday.