Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Match Preview
The DFB-Pokal Round of 16 delivers a blockbuster tie this Wednesday as Union Berlin welcome record champions Bayern Munich to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The atmosphere in Köpenick will be ferocious, especially given the recent history between these two sides—they played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at this very venue just three weeks ago in the Bundesliga.
Both teams arrive with a point to prove. Bayern Munich, managed by Vincent Kompany, are looking to rebound immediately after a sobering 3-1 Champions League defeat to Arsenal. While they have been scoring freely in the league (including a 6-2 demolition of Freiburg), their defensive fragility remains a concern. Union Berlin, meanwhile, are looking to shake off a disappointing 1-2 home loss to Heidenheim. With a quarter-final spot on the line, this is set to be a classic cup fight under the floodlights.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich
- Competition: DFB-Pokal (Round of 16)
- Venue: Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin (Capacity: 22,012)
- Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 20:45 CET / 19:45 GMT / 01:15 IST (Thursday)
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (UK): Premier Sports
- TV Channel (USA): ESPN+
- TV Channel (India): Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
- Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA), SonyLIV (India)
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Union Berlin:
- League Form: Mixed. They sit mid-table in the Bundesliga. Their recent form is inconsistent (L-W-D-D), and the home loss to Heidenheim was a blow to their fortress reputation.
- Cup Run: They survived a scare in the previous round, beating Arminia Bielefeld 2-1 after extra time.
- Current Challenge: Defensive focus. They conceded 2 goals against Bayern recently and 2 against Heidenheim. They need to tighten up to stop Harry Kane.
Bayern Munich:
- League Form: Strong domestically (top of the table), but the 1-3 loss to Arsenal in Europe exposed their high line.
- Cup History: Bayern have crashed out early in recent years (Saarbrücken, Freiburg). They are desperate to avoid another “Pokal-Schock.”
- Current Challenge: Managing injuries. Losing Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies strips them of their two most dynamic ball-carriers.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — What’s at Stake
For Union Berlin:
- The Upset: Knocking out Bayern is the ultimate prize in German football. A win here would ignite their season and possibly open a path to the final in Berlin.
For Bayern Munich:
- The Treble Dream: You can’t win the treble if you go out in December. Kompany is under pressure to deliver silverware, and the DFB-Pokal is a non-negotiable target.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Team Form
Union Berlin (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs Heidenheim (1-2)
- W vs St. Pauli (1-0)
- D vs Bayern Munich (2-2)
- D vs Freiburg (0-0)
- W vs Arminia Bielefeld (2-1 AET – Cup)
Bayern Munich (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs St. Pauli (3-1)
- L vs Arsenal (1-3 – CL)
- W vs Freiburg (6-2)
- D vs Union Berlin (2-2)
- W vs PSG (2-1 – CL)
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Team News
Union Berlin:
- Robert Skov: Out (Muscle Injury – A loss for their set-piece threat).
- Andrik Markgraf: Out (Leg Injury).
- Selection: With Skov out, Tom Rothe is expected to continue at left wing-back. Yorbe Vertessen or Jordan Siebatcheu will lead the line to target Bayern’s center-backs physically.
Bayern Munich:
- Jamal Musiala: Out (Broken Calfbone – A massive, long-term blow. Thomas Müller or Leroy Sané will likely play centrally).
- Alphonso Davies: Out (Knee Injury – Raphaël Guerreiro or Adam Aznou will fill in at Left Back).
- Rotation: After the Arsenal game, Kompany might freshen the legs. Konrad Laimer could start at right-back, and Kingsley Coman might return to the XI.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Head to Head
- 08 Nov 2025: Union Berlin 2–2 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
- 15 Mar 2025: Union Berlin 1–1 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
- 02 Nov 2024: Bayern Munich 3–0 Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- 20 Apr 2024: Union Berlin 1–5 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
- 25 Jan 2024: Bayern Munich 1–0 Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- Analysis: Union have drawn the last two meetings at home against Bayern, proving they can frustrate the Bavarian giants at the Alte Försterei.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Predicted Lineups
Union Berlin (3-4-2-1):
Bo Svensson will rely on a compact back three and quick transitions.
- GK: Frederik Rønnow
- CB: Danilho Doekhi
- CB: Kevin Vogt
- CB: Diogo Leite
- RWB: Christopher Trimmel (C)
- CM: Rani Khedira
- CM: Aljoscha Kemlein
- LWB: Tom Rothe
- CAM: Wooyeong Jeong
- CAM: Benedict Hollerbach
- ST: Jordan Siebatcheu
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1):
Without Musiala, Müller likely steps in as the Raumdeuter.
- GK: Manuel Neuer (C)
- RB: Konrad Laimer
- CB: Dayot Upamecano
- CB: Kim Min-jae
- LB: Raphaël Guerreiro
- CDM: Joshua Kimmich
- CDM: Aleksandar Pavlović
- RW: Michael Olise
- CAM: Thomas Müller
- LW: Serge Gnabry
- ST: Harry Kane
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Impact Bench Options
Union Berlin:
- László Bénes: Great delivery from set-pieces if Union need a goal late on.
- Yorbe Vertessen: Pure speed on the counter-attack to punish Bayern’s high line.
Bayern Munich:
- Leroy Sané: If the game is tight, his solo ability can unlock defenses.
- Mathys Tel: A dynamic option if Kane needs support or rest.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Tactical Outlook
Union Berlin:
- Playing Style: Structured Chaos. Union will cede possession (expect <35%) and focus on closing gaps. They will look to exploit the space behind Guerreiro using Hollerbach’s pace. Set-pieces (corners/free-kicks) are their best route to goal against Bayern.
- Weakness: Defensive Focus. They conceded 2 goals in the last 10 minutes against Heidenheim. Concentration lapses against Kane will be fatal.
Bayern Munich:
- Playing Style: Dominance & Patience. Without Musiala’s dribbling, Bayern will rely more on Kimmich’s passing and Olise’s width to stretch Union. Expect plenty of crosses for Kane.
- Strength: Harry Kane. He scored in the 2-2 draw and loves big occasions. If he gets half a yard in the box, he scores.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Danilho Doekhi vs. Harry Kane | Aerial Duel: Doekhi is a monster in the air, but Kane’s movement is elite. Doekhi must not get dragged out of position. | Bayern |
| Rani Khedira vs. Thomas Müller | Experience: Khedira anchors the midfield; Müller finds space where none exists. This chess match will decide the flow. | Tie |
| Tom Rothe vs. Michael Olise | Youth Duel: Olise is in sparkling form. Rothe has to defend 1v1 without much help. | Bayern |
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Spotlight Players
Frederik Rønnow (Union Berlin):
The Danish goalkeeper often turns into a wall against Bayern. He made 7 saves in the recent 2-2 draw. He will need another “Man of the Match” performance to keep Union in the cup.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich):
With Musiala out, the creative burden falls deeper. Kimmich’s chip passes over the Union defense will be crucial to breaking their low block. He also needs to protect the backline from Union’s counters.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Fan Reactions
Union Fans:
“We held them to a draw three weeks ago, we can do it again! The Alte Försterei will be on fire.”
“No Musiala is good news, but Kane is still terrifying. We need a miracle.”
Bayern Fans:
“The Arsenal loss was a wake-up call. We need a reaction.”
“No more Pokal embarrassments, please. Just win 2-0 and go home.”
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Match-Defining Factors
- The Musiala Absence: Without him, Bayern are less unpredictable centrally. Union might find it easier to defend a Bayern side that relies more on crosses.
- Union’s Set Pieces: Trimmel’s delivery is world-class. Bayern struggle defending corners. This is Union’s equalizer.
- Fatigue: Bayern played a high-intensity game vs Arsenal on Wednesday. Union played Saturday. Bayern might be leggy in the final 20 minutes.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Prediction
Score Prediction: Union Berlin 1–2 Bayern Munich (AET)
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Bayern Munich to Win.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Union scored 2 vs Bayern recently; Bayern’s defense is leaky).
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals (Recent H2H: 2-2, 1-1, 3-0, 5-1).
Analysis: This will be much tighter than the odds suggest. Union are tough at home, and Bayern are wounded and missing key stars. Expect Union to score from a set-piece, but Bayern’s superior bench quality and the inevitability of Harry Kane should see them scrape through, possibly in extra time.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — Final Word
It’s the magic of the DFB-Pokal in one of Germany’s most atmospheric stadiums. Union Berlin have the belief that they can hurt Bayern Munich, having done so recently. However, Bayern usually react to defeats (like the one against Arsenal) with ruthless efficiency. It won’t be pretty, but the Bavarians should edge it.
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich — FAQs
When is the Union Berlin vs Bayern match?
The match kicks off on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, at 20:45 CET (Thursday 01:15 IST).
Is Jamal Musiala playing?
No, Jamal Musiala is out with a broken calfbone.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Sony Sports Network and stream on SonyLIV.
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