Plan for Union: Build on current position and gain momentum

Full steam ahead! FC Bayern are aiming to take the next step towards their ninth straight championship when they host 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday (live text and webradio commentary from 15:30 CEST on fcbayern.com). At the same time, head coach Hansi Flick's team will be looking to boost their confidence for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Read all about it in the preview from fcbayern.com.

Enjoy the best images from Bayern's final training session before hosting Union Berlin in our gallery:

The situation for FC Bayern

The groundwork has been laid. Thanks to last Saturday's 1-0 win in the standout fixture at RB Leipzig, FC Bayern have a seven-point lead over second place with seven matchdays to go this season. Since the introduction of the three-point rule, no league leaders have relinquished a lead like that so late in the season. In the Champions League, however, FCB suffered a midweek setback after being beaten 3-2 in the quarter-final first leg against PSG at the Allianz Arena. The Reds' task now is to quickly put this defeat behind them and to build on the excellent position in the league so they gain some momentum for the upcoming second leg in Paris.

The opponents: Union Berlin

Union Berlin are one of the positive surprises of the season. After an impressive maiden Bundesliga season which kept them in the top flight, the Irons are now enjoying an even better campaign. 39 points after 27 matchdays (nine points more than in the previous season) translates to an excellent seventh place in the table. In the reverse fixture at the Alte Försterei, the capital club earned a 1-1 draw against FC Bayern. Last Sunday, Union also drew 1-1 in the derby against Hertha BSC. "I like their mentality and the way they play football. They put in a lot of legwork and have a lot of drive in their game," was how FCB head coach Flick described them. "They have a footballing approach, I like that a lot. The coach is doing an outstanding job."

Team news, tactics and more: You can watch Hansi Flick's pre-match press conference before hosting Union Berlin (with English translation) here:

Team news for FC Bayern vs. Union Berlin

In addition to Alphonso Davies (red-card suspension), Robert Lewandowski (ligament strain in his right knee), Serge Gnabry (self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19), Corentin Tolisso (ruptured tendon) and Douglas Costa (rehabilitative training after a hairline fracture in his metatarsal), Bayern will be without Niklas Süle, Leon Goretzka, Lucas Hernández and Marc Roca.

Check out the team news ahead of the clash with Union:

For Union, Anthony Ujah, Sheraldo Becker, FCB loanee Leon Dajaku and Taiwo Awoniyi are all out injured. Niko Gießelmann is still doubtful.

What the coaches say

Hansi Flick: "We definitely want to win what will be a tough game against Union and that's how we'll approach the game. We'll also make sure we manage the workload for one or two players. But our primary goal is getting three points."

Urs Fischer (Union Berlin head coach): "FC Bayern are one of the best teams in the world. They've won six titles and as a club have won everything you can win. We have to look forward to this game, but we also need to be at our very best on the day."

If you want to know more about the game against Union, check out our facts and stats