Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin predictions: Hosts can ease to victory

Liam Flin
Spotlight
Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich have work to do in the battle for the Bundesliga title
Thomas Tuchel's Bayern Munich have work to do in the battle for the Bundesliga title

- No club has kept more clean sheets than Bayern Munich (8) in the Bundesliga this season 
- Union Berlin have lost six of their eight road games in the Bundesliga 
- Recommended Bet: Bayern Munich to win to nil

After defying expectations to secure a top-four finish and Champions League football in the Bundesliga last season, Union Berlin have fallen apart this campaign.

The capital club seem to have paid the price for their European involvement and are just above the relegation zone with 16 matches played.

The situation does not get any easier this week, either, as they pay a visit to title hopefuls Bayern Munich, who can narrow the gap between themselves and leaders Bayer Leverkusen to four points with a win.

Team news

Noussair Mazraoui and Kim Min-jae are at the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively and are unavailable for Bayern, who are missing Serge Gnabry, Daniel Peretz, Bouna Sarr and Tarek Buachmann through injury.

Union Berlin will be without injured midfielder Rani Khedira, as well as Aissa Laidouni, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Tunisia.

The stats

Bayern Munich have won seven of their nine matches at home in the Bundesliga this term, drawing one and losing one and conceding only six times in the process.

Union Berlin, meanwhile, have failed to score in nine of their 16 matches in the Bundesliga this term, drawing blanks in five of their eight road fixtures.

The Bavarians have won five of their eight Bundesliga meetings with Union since their first season in the top flight in 2019-20.

Striker Harry Kane has been amongst the goals since making the move to Bayern Munich
Striker Harry Kane has been amongst the goals since making the move to Bayern Munich

Prediction

Their 1-0 defeat to Werder Bremen at the weekend was a reminder that Bayern are far from invincible this season and the Bavarians still have work to do in the title race with Bayer Leverkusen seven points ahead of them, having played one game more.

But Thomas Tuchel will be expecting a response from his side in midweek when they face strugglers Union Berlin and lightning is unlikely to strike twice.

Bayern Munich have still won 13 of their 17 league assignments this season and thrashed Hoffenheim 3-0 at the Allianz Arena in their first match back after the winter break.

Harry Kane has been exceptional this season with 22 goals in 17 matches, but Bayern also deserve credit for their defensive performances, with only 16 goals conceded in 17 matches.

Their tally of eight clean sheets is the joint-best in the division and they should fancy their chances of shutting out Union.

The drop-off for Union Berlin from last season has been quite something and a lack of goals has been a problem with the capital club scoring only 17 times in 16 matches, a poor return by the Bundesliga's standards.

Sheraldo Becker has also departed the club for Real Sociedad and, although they have reinforced their attack with the addition of Chris Bedia, the former Servette man could take time to settle.

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Tags

Bayern MunichUnion BerlinBundesliga