It’s football capital versus federal capital on Saturday as FC Bayern host Union Berlin in the primetime fixture on Bundesliga Matchday 27 (kick-off 18:30 CET). Having drawn 1-1 in each of their last two league games against Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Julian Nagelsmann’s side are looking for a win again. Their record against the Berliners and one player’s performance in particular in the reverse fixture offer hope of a home win to maintain their four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table. Read on for all the facts and figures on the clash with the Eisernen:
1. Unbeaten against Union
The Berliners have won just one of their last six Bundesliga games, and now they face none other than FC Bayern. The club from the Köpenick district of the capital have yet to beat the German record champions in five attempts (D2 L3). Bayern have only played against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and SV Darmstadt more times (both eight) in the top flight without losing.
Bayern were impressive in their 5-2 win in the reverse fixture at the Alten Försterei.
2. Sprint kings
One thing’s for sure: it’s going to be all go again on Saturday. That’s because Bayern have the highest average number of sprints per match in the Bundesliga this season – a whopping 254 to be precise. Union, in contrast, have made the fewest sprints of all teams with an average of 209.
And that’s despite the absence of Alphonso Davies. But there’s good news there:
3. Best defence in the league
Bayern’s 28 goals conceded this season is the fewest of all teams in the Bundesliga. Before last weekend they were level with Freiburg, but the two goals they conceded against Wolfsburg mean the Breisgau outfit are only second best for now. Julian Nagelsmann's side also boast the strongest attack in the league with 77 goals, 11 more than second-placed Dortmund.
4. Record man Neuer
With 310 Bundesliga wins each, CEO Oliver Kahn and captain Manuel Neuer are currently joint top in the all-time rankings. Victory over Union would see Neuer become the outright number one for most wins in the German top flight.
Manuel Neuer could surpass Oliver Kahn on Saturday.
5. Hoping for more Müller magic
Same again please, Thomas! The Munich men produced an impressive display in their 5-2 win in the reverse fixture, and alongside brace scorer Robert Lewandowski, one man again stood out from the collective: Thomas Müller. The 32-year-old scored one goal and set up three, registering four goal involvements for only the second time in his career – the first being the 8-0 win over Hamburger SV in 2015 (two goals, two assists).
6. One for the history books
Bayern’s home match against Union will go down in history. It will be the Bavarians’ 1,935th fixture in the Bundesliga and will see them pass Werder Bremen (1,934) as the outright record holders. The Reds are already comfortably at the top in the all-time table of Germany’s top flight with 3,907 points.
More on the record-breaking match here:
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