Bayern Munich will hope to take another significant step towards reclaiming their Bundesliga crown with victory against hosts Union Berlin on Saturday at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
Union are fifth last in 14th place with just 26 points and are at risk of being dragged into the relegation battle, while Bayern's tally of 61 points is eight more than second-placed Bayer Leverkusen despite losing 3-2 against VfL Bochum on March 8.
Match preview
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The hosts managed to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 last Sunday despite conceding first after just 13 minutes and creating no big chances, while also facing three themselves.
Union's victory against the Eagles was just the third time that they scored in any of their past seven matches, with the club having failed to find the back of the net in 13 of their 27 fixtures in 2024-25.
Boss Steffen Baumgart's side are only six points ahead of 16th-placed VfL Bochum, who occupy the league's relegation playoff spot, but the gap could shrink considerably given his team face five of the Bundesliga's top seven in their next five outings.
Die Eisernen have been beaten in three of their last five games and have in fact lost 13 of their past 18 in all competitions while only winning three times.
Baumgart will also be concerned about his team's form at home considering they have been defeated in five, held to a stalemate in three and emerged victorious in just one of their nine most recent matches at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
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As for the visitors, they somehow surrendered a two-goal lead and lost 3-2 against relegation-threatened Bochum, though they could point to the fact midfielder Joao Palhinha was dismissed in the 43rd minute when they were leading 2-1.
Bayern may have already dealt a decisive blow to rivals Leverkusen, with the Bavarians' 2-0 victory against them on Wednesday in the second leg of their round of 16 clash in the Champions League seeing them win 5-0 on aggregate and potentially damage the belief within their rivals' squad.
Vincent Kompany's side have now scored at least two goals in 27 of their 40 games this campaign and have netted three or more goals on 22 occasions.
The Bavarians defeated Union Berlin 3-0 earlier in the league season on November 2, and have managed to score at least three times against Saturday's hosts in five of their last seven matchups.
Kompany's team won nine of their 10 Bundesliga matches prior to their defeat against Bochum – drawing one – and have triumphed in nine of their past 12 in all competitions while losing just once.
Bayern are also unbeaten in five away matches having won four and drawn one in that period, and they have only succumbed to defeat in one of their last 12 on the road in the top flight, with the Bavarians winning eight of those clashes.
Team News
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Union will have to find ways of coping with the absence of defenders Robert Skov and Oluwaseun Ogbemudia, though both are scheduled to return by the end of the month.
Expect Danilho Doekhi, Leopold Querfeld and Diogo Leite to be fielded in a back three between wing-backs Christopher Trimmel and Josip Juranovic.
Midfielder Aljoscha Kemlein has been ruled out for the rest of the season, and his absence makes Lucas Tousart, Rani Khedira and Janik Haberer likely to feature in the middle of the pitch.
Meanwhile, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's place will likely be filled by Jonas Urbig until he recovers from a calf issue.
With Palhinha suspended and Aleksandar Pavlovic ruled out, perhaps Joshua Kimmich could be stationed alongside Leon Goretzka in midfield.
Striker Harry Kane is likely to be supported by Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane, but winger Kingsley Coman is set to be sidelined until the middle of April because of an ankle injury.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite; Trimmel, Tousart, Khedira, Haberer, Juranovic; Hollerbach, Ilic
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Urbig; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Kane
We say: Union Berlin 0-4 Bayern Munich
Bayern will come into the game as clear favourites considering their impressive record on the road this season.
It is difficult to see how Union can stop the visitors from scoring, and the Bavarians will be confident of finding the back of the net multiple times.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
