Bayern Munich have responded to every challenge thrown at them this season. The biggest game of their campaign until now came against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. Bayern managed to win this game 2-1 in France after being reduced to ten men at the end of the first.
Vincent Kompany’s men showed resilience and composure to win the game after Luis Diaz was sent off for a rash challenge. The Belgian coach was ecstatic on the full-time whistle as he went on the pitch to celebrate with his players. Kompany will look to get his players from the high of a win in Paris to turn their attention to the trip to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Kompany can equal Pep Guardiola’s record of winning the first 10 league games of the season with Bayern. Union Berlin are enduring a challenging campaign, sitting in 10th place in the points table. It will be a tricky away fixture for Die Roten despite their good run of form in the Bundesliga, as Union Berlin have lost only one game at home this season.
Team News
Bayern didn’t lose any players to injury during the clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Josip Stanisic has almost regained full fitness, having started in France on Tuesday.
Jamal Musiala was spotted doing light running on the grass at Sabner Strasse. The German star remains on the sidelines for Bayern alongside Hiroki Ito and Alphonso Davies.
Predicted Starting XI
Manuel Neuer was the star man for Bayern in France. The experienced goalkeeper stepped up for Die Roten when they needed him the most. He made eight saves against Paris Saint-Germain, with seven coming in the second half. Neuer was unfortunate not to keep a clean sheet on Tuesday. The German star will look to follow up performance against PSG with a clean sheet against Union Berlin.
Kompany is unlikely to change the center-back partnership of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah on Saturday. There could be one change in the back four. Raphael Guerreiro will replace Stanisic and play on the left of a back four. Konrad Laimer will start in the right-back position. Guerreiro and Laimer can switch sides since both are well-equipped to play in either full-back position.
Joshua Kimmich will start at the base of the midfield against Union Berlin. Since Aleksandar Pavlovic started against PSG, Kompany may look to bring Leon Goretzka to the starting lineup in the center of the park.
Kompany did a good job of managing the workload of attacking players during last weekend’s clash against Bayer Leverkusen. With the international break starting from Monday, Kompany will stick to the attacking quartet of Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz.
Predicted Starting XI: Neuer; Guerreiro, Tah, Upamecano, Laimer; Goretzka, Kimmich; Diaz, Gnabry, Olise; Kane
Score Prediction
Union Berlin 1-3 Bayern Munich
Despite Union Berlin’s good record at home, anything but a win will be a surprising result. Bayern have looked the most complete team this season. They will likely pile on the pressure from word go and eventually get a comfortable victory.