The German Bundesliga may on Saturday (from 3.15 p.m. LIVE on Sky Sport Bundesliga 2 – stream the game with the SkyX dream pass) look forward to an unusual top game. Series champion Bayern Munich is a guest at Union Berlin, who has the same number of points. The outsider from the capital could even take the lead in the table with a win in the fifth round. An Austrian duel between the Union captain Christopher Trimmel, who was only used irregularly recently, and Bayern’s Marcel Sabitzer is also possible on the pitch.
Union coach Urs Fischer remained on the ground with ten points before the duel between the two teams. “It’s a snapshot,” said the Swiss before what was probably the biggest game of the Berliners under his leadership. “We don’t have the top fight in mind.” Leading the table would be the next highlight in the steady rise of the Irons, who played in the second division three years ago and recently made it into the European Cup twice in a row.
In the sold-out stadium An der Alten Försterei it is against what is perhaps the best team in the world, as Fischer said. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann praised the development of the opponent. What distinguishes Fischer is “that he has the necessary calmness in certain situations. And the sporting management makes very good transfers.” Observers are reacting to the reluctant goal of the Köpenickers with increasing eye rolls: relegation and not Europe. But the narrative of the small district club that wants to annoy the big ones fits Union perfectly – in terms of the self-image of the environment and also in terms of sport.
Nagelsmann, on the other hand, knows that before the start of the Champions League against Inter Milan, a tricky task awaits the series champions: “Union doesn’t play complicated football, but very straight-forward football that’s extremely geared towards switching games. They often defend deep, very compactly.” Then there are the “great fans” in a “great stadium”, as the Bayern coach emphasized: “It’s difficult to play there, but doable. We try our best.”
FCB shooting star Tel is missing against Union
Bayern have to aim for the planned away win to maintain their lead in the table without 17-year-old Mathys Tel. The talented striker tore the ankle of his right foot during his outstanding debut with a goal in the 5-0 win against Viktoria Köln in the DFB Cup and has had to take a break. “It’s a pain issue,” said Nagelsmann.
Borussia Mönchengladbach will have to do without ÖFB legionnaire Stefan Lainer against FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday (5:30 p.m.). “Unfortunately he will be out, he has an inflamed knee,” said coach Daniel Farke on Friday, who otherwise has all the other players available. The 30-year-old right-back has only made a six-minute short appearance in the league at the start of the season against TSG Hoffenheim (3-1).
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Featured image: Imago.