Union Berlin is set to face Bayern Munich at Stadion An der Alten Forsterei as both teams aim to secure a spot in the fourth round of the DFB-Pokal. This encounter marks their second meeting within a month. Union Berlin successfully halted Bayern Munich’s impressive winning streak earlier this season, but replicating that performance will be challenging.
Match Preview
Union Berlin began their cup campaign with a solid victory over FC Gutersloh. Following that win, they edged past last season’s finalists, Arminia Bielefeld, in a tense match that went into extra time. However, their recent form suffered a setback with a surprising 2-1 loss to Heidenheim.
In contrast, Bayern Munich rebounded from their Champions League defeat to Arsenal by defeating St Pauli in the Bundesliga. The victory helped them maintain an eight-point lead at the top of the league. Despite their domestic success, pressure remains on head coach Vincent Kompany to deliver more silverware, particularly in the DFB-Pokal, a trophy they have not claimed in five years.
Bayern’s Cup Journey
Bayern Munich has had a successful cup run so far, defeating Wehen Wiesbaden and FC Koln. They now aim to add Union Berlin to their list of conquerors in the tournament.
Team News
Union Berlin has some injury concerns ahead of the match. Forward Robert Skov has been sidelined since September due to a muscle injury, while 19-year-old defender Andrik Markgraf is also out with a leg injury.
Bayern Munich made several changes during their recent match against St Pauli, and young talent Lennart Karl impressed with three goal contributions in his last three appearances, including a goal in the Champions League. Key players Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala are currently injured but expected to return soon.
Possible Lineups
Here are the potential starting lineups for both teams:
- Union Berlin: Ronnow; Leite, Querfeld, Doekhi; Kohn, Kemlein, Khedira, Trimmel; Ansah, Jeong; Burke
- Bayern Munich: Urbig; Bischof, Tah, Kim, Laimer; Pavlovic, Kimmich; Diaz, Karl, Guerreiro; Kane
Match Predictions
The last encounter between these teams ended in a dramatic draw, with Harry Kane scoring a last-minute equalizer for Bayern. However, predictions suggest that Bayern will learn from past mistakes and take the match seriously this time. While Union Berlin put up a strong fight before, Bayern is favored to win, with a predicted score of 3-1 in their favor.
