Bayern ahead of Union game: ‘Champions rise again’

Time to look ahead. FC Bayern are away to Union Berlin on Saturday on Bundesliga Matchday 10 (live updates and web radio from 15:30 CEST on fcbayern.com). Following the disappointment of the exit from the DFB Cup against Borussia Mönchengladbach (5-0), the Reds want to get back to winning ways immediately. Coach Julian Nagelsmann will unfortunately not be in the dugout for the clash with the Irons. Get all the key information on the game in our preview:

Check out the best images from the final Bayern training session ahead of the away game in Berlin:

The situation for FC Bayern

"We aspire to be champions who rise again. On Saturday we have the chance to rise again. I'm sure there will be a response," said Nagelsmann in the pre-match press conference on Friday. World player of the year Robert Lewandowski spoke to the fans on his social networks after the defeat in Mönchengladbach: "I'm convinced we'll soon give you another reason to celebrate again." Lewy and Co. want to follow up these words with action against Union and consolidate the lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a victory. With 22 points from the last nine games, Bayern are one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund.

Opponents Union Berlin

Union Berlin are in their third season in the top flight in Germany and are currently in an impressive fifth place with 16 points. After three league wins on the bounce, last weekend brought a 1-1 draw away to VfB Stuttgart. The team under coach Urs Fischer secured progress to the DFB Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday with a 3-1 win after extra time away to third division Waldhof Mannheim. "Union are doing very well with an outstanding coach who I very much admire," said FCB coach Nagelsmann. "They have a lot of new signings and players who have left but they're still playing with great consistency. They've gone 21 home games without defeat and are in extraordinarily good form."

Watch Julian Nagelsmann's pre-match press conference in full:

Team news for Union vs. Bayern

In addition to Sven Ulreich (rehab training after a knee injury), Bayern will also be without Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in Berlin due to a thigh injury. Nagelsmann is waiting to see in the case of Leon Goretzka after the midfielder picked up a knock at Mönchengladbach on Wednesday. 

Ahead of the clash with Bayern, Union are concerned about Max Kruse after he had to break off in training on Friday. "Otherwise, everybody else is on board," said Union coach Fischer on Friday. The recently injured Marvin Friedrich is available again.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is sidelined:

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: "Of course, we want to produce a response on Saturday and live up to our aspirations. Moving completely on from Wednesday's result, we have to push ourselves all the way because these opponents will present us with a great challenge, with their very man-focused, intense and emotional approach to defending. Then there's Wednesday's result on top of that. That should inspire us to go into the game with maximum intensity."

Urs Fischer (Union Berlin coach): "It will be an attractive but also difficult task against one of the best, if not even the best team at the moment. It's down to us to play our game as much as possible. The challenge is difficult enough. Whether or not they come here with a particular anger will not change anything."

Here are the stats and facts ahead of the away game at Union: