Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin – News and Probable Lineups

Union Berlin will head to the Allianz Arena on Friday still seeking their first win of the Bundesliga season, taking on a Bayern Munich side that remains unbeaten.

The Bavarians are aiming for their sixth win in seven matches, while Die Eisernen are determined to avoid suffering a third successive defeat.

Match overview

Under the guidance of Vincent Kompany, Bayern has begun the 2026-27 campaign strongly, looking to reclaim their usual position at the top of the table after this fixture.

Bayern has secured two victories and a draw in their three league games thus far, including a 2-1 win against newly-promoted Elversberg on Sunday.

Kompany’s side controlled that match with 72% possession and produced 2.83 expected goals, yet it was a classic strike from Harry Kane that sealed the points after they were pegged back to 1-1 in the second half.

This victory followed Bayern’s unexpected 0-0 draw against Schalke 04 on September 5, raising some concerns among fans about their struggles against the two promoted teams.

Currently positioned fourth in the Bundesliga with seven points, Bayern could ascend to the top with another win, but supporters are expecting a convincing performance given that Union is a considerable underdog.

On the other hand, Mauro Lustrinelli has struggled at the start of his tenure with Union and is likely feeling the pressure to avoid a heavy defeat.

Die Eisernen have managed to gather just one point from their three league matches so far, putting them in 16th place in the standings.

The Berlin club kicked off their competitive campaign with a 4-2 DFB-Pokal win over Braunschweig and managed to secure a respectable 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in their first Bundesliga match.

However, they faced a 4-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on September 5, followed by a 3-1 loss to Schalke in their latest match at home, leading to growing concerns amongst their supporters.

Needing points urgently, Union is unlikely to secure their first victory on Friday since they have not bested Bayern in matches throughout this decade, but their record of two draws in the last five encounters with Bayern might offer a glimmer of hope.

Team News

Bayern will field a significantly healthy squad for this matchup, although they will miss centre-back Tarek Buchmann as he continues his recovery from surgical treatment for a syndesmosis injury.

Nevertheless, Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano should be ready to take their places in Kompany’s defensive lineup, supported by Konrad Laimer and Alphonso Davies.

Conversely, Union has a lengthy injury list to navigate, with right-back Josip Juranovic, left-back Andrik Markgraf, and centre-backs Marvin Friedrich and Stanley N’Soki all unavailable.

In an attempt to adapt, Lustrinelli may consider pairing Felix Uduokhai and Leopold Querfeld at the back this Friday, with Tom Rothe and the adaptable Christopher Trimmel occupying the other defensive positions.

Up front, strikers Andrej Ilic and Oliver Burke are both ruled out, although Burke is nearing a return from an Achilles injury, while winger Kastriot Imeri is uncertain due to a thigh problem.

Nonetheless, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Jeong Woo-yeong should be prepared to spearhead the attack this week, with support coming from Michel Aebischer and Livan Burcu on the flanks.

Bayern Munich probable starting XI:

Neuer; Laimer, Tah, Upamecano, Davies; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Olise, Musiala, Diaz; Kane

Union Berlin probable starting XI:

Ronnow; Trimmel, Uduokhai, Querfeld, Rothe; Aebischer, Khedira, Kemlein, Burcu; Latte Lath, Jeong

Bayern has triumphed in nearly all their matches this season, although their recent displays have not reflected the scores accurately.

Considering this, Union may find a way to score, even though the home side appears poised for another victory on Friday.