Bundesliga: Bayern Munich Set Their Eyes on Their Eighth

Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich

When the Bundesliga restarts this weekend, FC Bayern will be the team everybody wants to beat, and on Sunday it’s the turn of Union Berlin to take a shot.

Die Bayern are hunting for an eighth consecutive league title and a 30^th in total, and head coach Hansi Flick will expect a fast start in Berlin to keep the chasing pack at bay.

The most likely team to upset Bayern’s plans is Borussia Dortmund who are four points behind in the league table and with a favourable run-in, including a home game against Die Bayern.

Weekend hosts Union Berlin are in a relatively comfortable mid-table position, so an empty Stadion An de Alten Forsterei shouldn’t present too much menace for the Bavarians.

Talking Points

Flick is the man for Bayern

Even before Berlin and Bayern step out onto the pitch, the Bundesliga 2020 results will already have begun rolling in again with a packed schedule on Saturday. But at 1.21 to lift the title, Bayern Munich are the team in charge.

During the enforced break, the Bavarians have rewarded Hansi Flick with a contract after he guided his team to 18 wins from 21 competitive games since his arrival.

The league leaders have taken 31 points from their last 11 Bundesliga matches and they have the best attacking and defensive records in the league, scoring 73 goals and conceding 26 and keeping six clean sheets in the last 11 games.

Flying wing back Benjamin Pavard is a key part of Bayern’s defence but can also impress at the other end of the pitch, as shown when he scored a brilliant half-volley when Bayern beat Union Berlin earlier in the season.

Bayern’s Benjamin Pavard scored brilliant half-volley in victory over Union Berlin earlier in the Bundesliga season — Bayern’s Benjamin Pavard and Robert Lewandowski celebrate after scoring their side’s goal during the DFB Pokal match in Munich

He did blot his copybook later in the game, giving away a penalty to bring Berlin back into the game, but the France international remains a quality player.

Lewandowski fit again

The break in football due to the coronavirus pandemic has worked to the advantage of Bayern in terms of player fitness. While BVB have a few injury concerns, Bayern will only be missing Philippe Coutinho on Sunday after he had undergone surgery on his injured ankle.

The two-month hiatus came just as Bayern’s red hot striker Robert Lewandowski was suffering from a shin injury, but he’s fully fit again and ready for action.

One side issue to keep SBOBET fans entertained is the two-man race for the Golden Boot. Robert Lewandowski, who has 25, is four goals ahead of Red Bulls striker Timo Werner.

Berlin sweating on Sebastian

In their first season in the top flight Union Berlin have won many fans with their fearless style and attacking intent and head coach Urs Fischer will be more than happy with their 11^th position, currently eight points clear of the bottom three.

The newcomers’ success has been down to two things. At home, they have won five of their last eight home Bundesliga fixtures, and they have enjoyed the contribution of striker Sebastian Andersson who has 11 goals this term.

The 6-foot-3 Swede is in his second season in Berlin — instantly becoming a hero last term when his goals fired Union up to the top flight — and he has shown how comfortable he is at this level.

There is a slight doubt over his fitness but Fischer hopes he will start in a front two, alongside Marius Butler, who has seven goals this campaign.

History

While Bayern has dominated German football for decades, Union Berlin has a more modest history, playing in the Bundesliga for the first time after they beat Stuttgart in a stunning play-off last season.

They drew the away leg 2-2 against the side which finished 16^th in the top division, then won promotion courtesy of away goals after they played out a 0-0 draw at home.

That result was a good indication of their readiness as the Stuttgart side featured Pavard, as well as former Bayern striker Mario Gomez.

In the only previous meeting between these two teams, Die Bayern triumphed in the return fixture with a 2-1 score during that hard fought match back in October.

Betting Tip

	Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich	Union Berlin Asian Handicap + 1.75 @ 2.19
	May 17, 5:00 (GMT+8)

The pre-match Union Berlin vs FC Bayern betting odds say anything other than a Bayern win would be a major shock, with the champions at 1.20 to triumph, the draw at 6.80 and Union Berlin way out there at 11.00.

But I don’t think it will be a walk in the park for the favourites and I expect both sides to score. Union Berlin’s previous five games all yielded over 2.50 goals, as did four of Bayern’s last six, and Fischer’s side has scored ten goals in the last six games.

For an alternative bet, over 3.00 goals is available at 1.79, but I’m backing Berlin to settle quickly in their own stadium and push Bayern all the way.

I’m going to opt for a few goals to mark football’s resumption.