Bayern Munich booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a comfortable 4-1 win against Atalanta at Allianz Arena on Wednesday. They won the tie 10-2 on aggregate, sending out a statement to their other competitors for the Champions League trophy.
The Bavarian club will turn their attention to the Bundesliga on Saturday. After a productive start to the year, Bayern will aim to go into the international break on a positive note when they host Union Berlin on Saturday.
Die Roten have a healthy lead of nine points at the top of the league table. They will look to maintain the same lead, if not improve it, by getting a positive result against Union Berlin.
Meanwhile, Union Berlin are going through an inconsistent Bundesliga season. They are currently ninth in the league, 14 points away from the last European spot in the table. Union Berlin need fortune and a near-perfect record until the end of the season to have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe. A positive result at Allianz Arena on Saturday can be the ideal springboard for them to end the season on a positive note.
Team News
Luis Diaz and Nicolas Jackson will miss the game against Union Berlin due to their suspension for the red cards against Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 26. Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies are recovering from their respective injuries, so they are ruled out for Saturday’s game.
Aleksandar Pavlovic is fit for the game against Union Berlin despite suffering a knock against Atalanta. Manuel Neuer is closing on a return to action, but his participation against Union Berlin remains a doubt.
Predicted Starting XI
Jonas Urbig will keep his place in the starting XI on Saturday, even though Manuel Neuer is close to being fit. The Bavarian club should not risk Neuer before the international break. Moreover, Urbig has delivered decent performances over the last few weeks in the absence of Neuer.
Dayot Upamecano will return to the starting XI on Saturday after being rested against Atalanta on Wednesday. He will replace Jonathan Tah in the lineup. Upamecano will play alongside Kim Min-jae in the heart of defense. Konrad Laimer will return to the starting XI in the right-back position, while Josip Stanisic will slot in the left-back role.
Joshua Kimmich was rested against Atalanta since the tie was well in Bayern’s control after clinching a 6-1 victory in Italy last week. Kimmich will start on Saturday against Union Berlin. He will likely partner with Aleksandar Pavlovic in the center of the park.
Michael Olise is nailed on to start on Saturday. The French winger will play on the right flank. Â Lennart Karl and Serge Gnabry will be part of the front three behind Harry Kane in the number nine position. Karl and Gnabry are expected to keep switching between the left flank and the number ten position during the game.
Predicted Starting XI: Urbig; Stanisic, Kim Min-jae, Upamecano, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Gnabry, Karl, Olise; Kane
Score Prediction
Bayern Munich 4-1 Union Berlin
Union Berlin have been in patchy form over the last five games, winning two and losing three games. Considering Die Roten’s good form over the last few weeks, anything but a home win on Saturday will be a big upset.