Union Berlin and Bayern Munich clash at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday afternoon, with the visitors looking to extend their remarkable perfect start to the season.
The Bavarians are aiming for their 17th consecutive victory in all competitions. At the same time, Union Berlin seek to end their winless run against Bayern and claim a historic first-ever win against the German giants.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 8th November.
- Kick-off: 2:30pm BST.
- Venue: Stadion An Der Alten Forsterei, Berlin.
Union Berlin team news
Union Berlin will be without key defender Christopher Trimmel, who is suspended for one match due to accumulating yellow cards. The 38-year-old Austrian has been a regular starter this season, and his absence will force manager Steffen Baumgart to make changes on the right side of the defence. Janik Haberer or Tom Rothe are likely replacements.
Winger Robert Skov remains sidelined with a calf injury and is not expected to return until mid-November. The Danish international has been an important attacking option for Union when fit. Additionally, midfielder Livam Burcu is dealing with a lack of fitness and is doubtful for Saturday’s encounter. Andrik Margraf is also out until after the international break.
Baumgart, who took over as Union Berlin manager in January following the dismissal of Bo Svensson, will look to his squad depth to compensate for these absences. The former Union Berlin player brings Bundesliga experience and an aggressive, high-intensity pressing style to the capital club.
Bayern Munich team news
Bayern Munich face a significant injury crisis in their attacking department. Star midfielder Jamal Musiala remains out with a fractured left fibula and dislocated ankle suffered during the Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in July. The 22-year-old underwent successful surgery and has recently returned to training but is unlikely to feature before late November.
Left-back Alphonso Davies is also absent as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear sustained while on international duty in March. The Canadian international has been sidelined for nearly nine months but is expected to gradually return to team training after the upcoming international break, potentially making himself available for selection in December.
Luis Díaz will be suspended for Bayern’s next Champions League fixture against Arsenal after receiving a straight red card in the 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. The Colombian winger scored twice before being sent off just before halftime for a reckless tackle on Achraf Hakimi. However, the suspension does not carry across competitions, meaning Díaz is available for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash.
Manager Vincent Kompany, who recently extended his contract until 2029 following Bayern’s exceptional start to the season, confirmed that his squad is managing the busy schedule effectively despite the injury absences.
Form
Union Berlin
Union Berlin have endured an inconsistent start to the 2025/26 campaign under Steffen Baumgart. The Iron Ones currently sit in 10th place in the Bundesliga with 11 points from nine matches, having won three, drawn two and lost four. Their most recent league outing ended in a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to SC Freiburg, extending their goalless run to two consecutive matches.
Despite their mixed domestic form, Union Berlin did advance in the DFB-Pokal with a narrow 2-1 win over third-tier Arminia Bielefeld. The capital club have scored 11 goals and conceded 15 in their nine league matches so far, highlighting ongoing defensive vulnerabilities that Bayern’s prolific attack will look to exploit.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich are in sensational form under Vincent Kompany, having won all 16 competitive matches this season to establish a new record for European football’s top five leagues. The Bavarians lead the Bundesliga with a perfect record of nine wins from nine matches, scoring 33 goals and conceding just four. Their goal difference of +29 represents the best start to a Bundesliga campaign in history.
Their recent results include a dominant 3-0 victory over defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, where Kompany made seven changes to rest key players ahead of their Champions League clash. Bayern then produced a stunning 2-1 away win at Paris Saint-Germain, extending their winning streak despite playing with 10 men for the entire second half following Luis Díaz’s red card.
The Bavarians most recently dispatched Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 away from home before their 2-1 victory in Der Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund, where Harry Kane reached his 400th career club goal. Bayern have been ruthless in front of goal, with their attacking trio of Kane, Díaz and Michael Olise contributing 39 goals across all competitions this season.
Defensively, Bayern have been equally impressive, conceding just four goals in nine Bundesliga fixtures to boast the best defensive record in the division. Their combination of attacking brilliance and defensive solidity has positioned them as overwhelming favourites to retain their Bundesliga title.
Predicted lineups
Union Berlin: Rønnow; Rothe, Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite, Köhn; Khedira, Haberer; Ilic, Ansah; Burke.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Kim, Guerreiro; Goretzka, Palhinha; Olise, Müller, Gnabry; Kane.
How to watch Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich?
The match will not be televised in the United Kingdom.
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