Union Berlin will aim to become the second side in seven days to spring a surprise on Bayern Munich when they host the runaway Bundesliga leaders on Saturday.
Steffen Baumgart’s 14th-placed side are two places and six points above Bochum, who occupy the final relegation play-off place but became the first team in almost a year to win at Bayern in the league with a shock 3-2 win last Saturday.
“We’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe,” Baumgart said after Bayern completed a 5-0 aggregate win over reigning German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.
“You need an absolutely top performance, and even then you might not win. But first and foremost it’s about what we can do, what we can get out of this game – which is a big challenge.”
101GreatGoals.com has you covered for the line-ups, team news and confirmed starting sides from Union v Bayern Munich.
This way to the 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉. 👉🌱 #FCUFCB pic.twitter.com/qpzQc3WUdc
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) March 15, 2025
Union Berlin lineup v Bayern Munich
Defensive midfielder Aljoscha Kemlein has not played since January and is out for Union after having foot surgery.
Fellow Germany youth international Oluwaseun Ogbemudia is also absent with a foot issue sustained by the 18-year-old, while Danish left-winger Robert Skov has a knee injury.
Union have a respectable home record of four wins and four defeats from 12 league games this season, although three of those losses have come since Baumgart replaced Bo Svensson on December 30.
Die Eisernen have been unpredictable under the guidance of their former forward, losing against relegation rivals St Pauli and Holstein Kiel but holding sixth-placed Leipzig and beating third-placed Mainz and, last Sunday, fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt away.
Union Berlin starting XI: Ronnow, Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite, Trimmel, Schafer, Khedira, Haberer, Juranovic, Jeong, Ilic
Subs: Klaus, Rothe, Roussillon, Vogt, Tousart, Benes, Skarke, Ljubicic, Hollerbach
📋 Unsere 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒇 vs. Union Berlin! #FCUFCB pic.twitter.com/7pQM4D8XgJ
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) March 15, 2025
Bayern lineup v Union Berlin
Centre-backs Tarek Buchmann (shoulder) and Kim Min-jae (Achilles) and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (calf) are sidelined for Bayern.
In midfield, Joao Palhinha is serving a one-game suspension for a straight red card at Bochum and Aleksandar Pavlovic is ill.
Germany international Joshua Kimmich, who has featured for 57 minutes of Bayern’s last three league games, announced on Thursday that he has extended his contract until June 2029.
Bayern’s second league defeat of the season means they are eight points above second-placed Leverkusen with nine games remaining, as well as sitting 35 points above Union.
… und 𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒓 sind sie! 🤜🤛 #FCUFCB pic.twitter.com/UOfgnFyh1d
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) March 15, 2025
“We know their quality and need our best performance,” Roten manager Vincent Kompany said of Union. “They’re a team who live for special moments.
“They have an interesting way of moving the ball at the start of a phase. They go straight to the strikers or the midfielders, who then go for the second balls. They’re little moments of chaos that can bring energy – in particular in home games.”
Bayern won 3-0 when the teams met at the Allianz Arena on November 2, Kingsley Coman scoring in between two Harry Kane goals.
Bayern Munich starting XI: Urbig, Stanisic, Upamecano, Dier, Davies, Kimmich, Goretzka, Olise, Musiala, Gnabry, Kane
Subs: Ulreich, Peretz, Guerreiro, Ito, Boey, Laimer, Muller, Vidovic, Sane
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