How FC Bayern intend to win at Union Berlin despite strong home form

On Saturday, FC Bayern travel to Union Berlin - opponents the German champions have great respect for (live coverage with our text commentary and free web radio on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app from 15.30 CET). On the one hand, the Irons have an extremely strong record at home in the Alte Försterei, but on the other, they drew 1-1 with Bayern last season - we've put together all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

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Following the victory in the Champions League thriller at defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (2-1), Vincent Kompany's team have now not dropped a point in 16 competitive matches - in the Bundesliga, they currently have nine wins from nine matchdays. Should they also manage a tenth win in Berlin, they would break a league start record dating back to the days of coach Pep Guardiola. "I'm not interested in records," said head coach Vincent Kompany, "I'd rather win a final than break a record." And yet, of course, nothing else matters to FCB but success at the Alte Försterei, "if only because we couldn't win last year. The lads know that, so I don't have to tell them much about how difficult it will be at Union."

The facts on the clash:

The decisive factor will be "that we press the button and are mentally ready," said the head coach. The games like the thriller in Paris are the highlights in football - "but games like the one against Union remain an exciting challenge!" Especially because the Irons have only suffered one defeat in the Wuhlheide district this season so far. "They're a compact team, they're all strong in the tackle, strong runners, have a lot of experience, defend crosses superbly and immediately put pressure on the ball. It's similar to Köln - they have similar strengths as a collective, are very courageous and compact," praised Kompany. Just a few minutes after the win in Paris, the coach said, he'd already started focusing on the next opponents. "Also because they drew against us last year, they will go in there fully motivated. We'll have to prepare ourselves mentally," said the 39-year-old.

Read the key statements from the pre-match press conference here:

The opponents: Union Berlin

The tenth-placed side beat VfB Stuttgart at the Alte Försterei in the season opener and have lost just once in front of their own fans (4-2 against Hoffenheim). The season has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for coach Steffen Baumgart's team so far, with another win at Frankfurt and defeats at Leverkusen and Bremen. They also beat Gladbach at the Alte Försterei then drew 0-0 with HSV and most recently against Freiburg. It's not for nothing that Union are called Die Eisernen (The Irons ) - FC Bayern will need to give their all on Saturday afternoon, especially when it comes to tackling and defending. Kompany also knows 'it'll be a battle, It won't just be about pressing and possession, but very often about set-pieces, tackling, second balls - about taking away the opposition's momentum."

Take a look at our upcoming opponents in our analysis:

But Kompany also sounded a warning about the unpredictability of Union's attack: "They score goals where you think: You can't actually score from that position, can you? But then it goes in. You take that away, it's team momentum, believing in yourself - they have that," cautioned the coach. His opposite number Baumgart talked about "looking for solutions against FC Bayern, a team who hardly allow any solutions". That can only be solved collectively "with a high level of aggression against the ball".

Team news

Kompany said it remains to be seen how fit the team will ultimately be after being down to ten men for over 45 minutes at PSG , which is why he is waiting until the morning of the matchday to pick up the final signals from the players. One thing is clear: Raphaël Guerreiro will be rested; he was already carrying a slight knock in the game in Paris. The coach appeared somewhat amused by the questions about who will and won't play: "The question always comes up: 'When do the players take a break?' And when they take a break, the question is: 'Why are they taking a break?'" The long-term injured Alphonso Davies (cruciate ligament rupture), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal fracture) and Jamal Musiala (ankle dislocation and fibula fracture) will definitely not be available in Berlin.

Union will be missing captain Christopher Trimmel (suspended), Andrik Markgraf (regenerative training) and Robert Skov (calf injury).

Put your knowledge of Saturday's Bundesliga clash to the test in our matchday quiz:

What the coaches say

Tomorrow will be the first of two games within a few weeks against the Irons: