Can Bayern avoid a letdown after the big Leverkusen win?
Match Info
Location: Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin, Germany
Date: Saturday, March 15th, 2025
Time: 3:30 pm local time, 10:30 pm EST
TV/streaming: ESPN+, Find Your Country
After Tuesday’s thunderous 2-0 Champions win over Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich will temporarily shift the focus toward securing the Bundesliga title. Especially after blowing a 2-0 lead at home against Bochum last weekend, Bayern will be extra motivated to have a more complete showing.
In the Hinrunde, Bayern defeated Union Berlin 3-0 behind a brace from Harry Kane and a goal from Kingsley Coman. Bayern is historically undefeated against Union Berlin, earning eight wins and three draws. In the history of the German top flight (per FC Bayern), no other club have faced another so often without losing once.
Bayern is currently in first place of the Bundesliga, eight points clear of Leverkusen. Union Berlin is in 14th place, six points out of the relegation zone. After losing three consecutive matches, Union Berlin pulled off a massive upset over Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend.
Team news
Here is the predicted lineup, courtesy of Sky:
Union vs Bayern | Possible lineups [Sky] pic.twitter.com/JB6Defty0R
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) March 14, 2025
This is the same starting XI that Vincent Kompany used against Bayer Leverkusen, with three exceptions. Serge Gnabry, Eric Dier, and Josip Stanišić will give a breather to Kingsley Coman, Kim Min-jae and Konrad Laimer, respectively.
Just like the 3-0 win back in November, Bayern will want to get off to a hot start and have a two-plus goal lead at halftime. With the looming international break, Kompany will put extra emphasis on a strong showing and head into the break on a high note.
From an injury perspective, Bayern will be without the services of Aleksandar Pavlović (illness), Manuel Neuer, Kim Min-jae and Tarek Buchmann. João Palhinha will be unavailable due to the red card from the Bochum match.
Steffen Baumgart’s side primarily uses a 3-4-3 system but experimented more with a four-back system in February. The four-back system was successful in results over RB Leipzig (0-0 draw) and Hoffenheim (4-0 win) but failed to earn points against Gladbach, Dortmund, and Holstein Kiel. Benedict Hollerbach is the leading scorer (six goals), but only St. Pauli has scored less goals than Union Berlin this season.
Bavarian Podcast Works — Union Berlin vs. Bayern Munich Preview Show
Bayern Munich is riding high coming off of a massive Champions League tie victory over Bayer Leverkusen, but the Bavarians have to maintain focus if they want to avoid what looks like an obvious trap game on the schedule.
With the international break looming, Vincent Kompany will have to ensure his team keeps its eye on an underachieving, but capable Union Berlin squad. We will dive deep into that and more during the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show. Here is what we have in tap:
- A look into where each team falls in the Bundesliga table and some discussion on the recent form of each side.
- A look back at the first game between the teams earlier this season.
- A look at the injury/suspension situations for both teams.
- A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI.
- A prediction on the match.
