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The first Champions League night of the new year is here! FC Bayern host Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday (live text and free Web Radio commentary from 21:00 CET on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app) on Matchday 7 of the league phase of the Champions League. A win over the Belgian champions at the Allianz Arena could confirm the Munich side’s place in the round of 16. We bring you all the key info on the match in our preview.
Final training, press conference & more – all the updates from Bayern’s day before the match against Union Saint-Gilloise:
Latest news from Bayern
The signs are good for the six-time European champions. Bayern have won five of their six Champions League matches this season and sit in second place with 15 points in the league phase table behind leaders Arsenal (18 points). One more win from the remaining two fixtures against Union SG and PSV Eindhoven would almost certainly suffice for a place in the top eight and direct qualification for the round of 16. If one of the teams in places three to nine (PSG, Manchester City, Atalanta, Inter, Real Madrid, Atlético and Liverpool) don’t take six points from their final two games, one win for FCB would guarantee a top-eight finish.
“If you finish first or second, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to win the Champions League,” said head coach Vincent Kompany in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “But we want to achieve it because we're close and we've deserved it up to now. I want us to continue to earn it. It's incredibly difficult to finish in the top eight because there are more than eight big clubs in this phase.”
All the permutations ahead of the final two matchdays:
Bayern can go into their first European game of the year with plenty of confidence. Since the winter break, Kompany’s side have claimed three handsome victories in the Bundesliga over the past week and a half against Wolfsburg (8-1), Köln (3-1) and in Leipzig (5-1). “It's just great fun with the team right now,” said midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović, explaining the task facing them on Wednesday. “They're very compact, defend well and can counter well. We have to be wary of that in our defensive cover and play our attacking game.”
The lower tier of the Südkurve in the Allianz Arena will be closed against Union SG. More info.
Opponents: Union Saint-Gilloise
The reigning Belgian champions have performed respectably in their debut appearance in Europe’s premier club competition and still have a chance of reaching the knockout play-offs. A 3-1 away win at PSV was followed by defeats to Newcastle United (4-0), Inter Milan (4-0) and Atlético Madrid (3-1). After that they won 1-0 at Galatasaray and lost narrowly 3-2 to Marseille. Ahead of their final two matches in Munich and at home to Atalanta, USG are one point off 24th place, the final play-off berth, in 27th.
In the domestic Jupiler Pro League, Union are currently leading the way again after the club’s first league title in 90 years. They warmed up for the trip to Munich with a 1-0 win over KV Mechelen on Saturday.
Coach David Hubert’s side normally line up in a compact 3-5-2 system. In front of goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, an experienced back three of captain Christian Burgess, Kevin Mac Allister and Ross Sykes provide defensive stability. In the centre of the park, Belgian U21 international Kamiel Van De Perre, Adem Zorgane – who recently took part in the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria – as well as the creative Anouar Ait El Hadj pull the strings. The wide positions are normally occupied by Israeli international Anan Khalaili on the right and Ousseynou Niang, who was away at AFCON with winners Senegal until Sunday, or Guilherme Smith on the left. Up front, Promise David, the team’s top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions, and Austrian international Raul Florucz are the preferred strike pairing.
“They're doing a super job and have very talented players,” said Kompany in his assessment of the club from his home country. “They’re a club that have known the underdog role for years. In the league they normally have to dominate the game, but they prefer being the underdog, when it’s about the heroic moments. They live up to that role very well.”
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise analysed:
Team news for Bayern vs. Union Saint-Gilloise
Luis Díaz is available again having served his suspension in the Champions League. Jamal Musiala, who made his comeback from a broken leg and dislocated ankle in Leipzig on Saturday, is also available to Kompany. FCB are still without Nicolas Jackson, who will return at the end of the week following his victory with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as Josip Stanišić (ankle ligament injury), Konrad Laimer (calf strain) and Sacha Boey (illness).
For the visitors, Niang (AFCON) and striker Kevin Rodríguez are out of action, while defender Thierno Barry is a doubt.
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What the coaches say
We're playing at home, we have to perform. That's what counts.
Vincent Kompany (Bayern)
In the Champions League you're mixing with the best. And when you look at the best teams in Europe, Bayern Munich are right up there. We want to show our best side, that's why we play this sport. In football there's always a chance.
David Hubert (Union Saint-Gilloise)
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