Five facts about the match: Union Berlin at FC Bayern Munich
From Portugal to Munich: After a disappointing 1-1 draw in the Champions League at SC Braga, 1. FC Union Berlin have traveled directly to the Bavarian capital for their next Bundesliga match. Under new coach Nenad Bjelica, the Köpenickers will face serial champions Bayern Munich on Saturday (3.30pm/Sky). Ending the run of 16 games without a win is likely to be complicated.
Tough place to play: The penultimate-placed Union are clear outsiders at unbeaten second-placed Munich. The Ironmen have never won a competitive match against Bayern. Union have only picked up one point away from Bayern so far (2020/21).
Series: Both teams have the longest current streaks in the league, in both a positive and negative sense. Bayern have not lost in 13 games this season, while Union have not won in ten matches.
Fast: Union attacker Kevin Volland set a record against Munich. He scored the fastest goal in Bundesliga history in nine seconds for TSG Hoffenheim at home to FCB (1-2) in 2015/16.
Leaky: Union are still waiting for their first league game of the season without conceding a goal. The Köpenickers have already conceded 27 goals in twelve games. Last season, Bayern and the Berliners had the fewest goals conceded between them. 38 after 34 matchdays.
Reminder: Union coach Bjelica faced Bayern several times as a midfielder at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He never managed a win. He is likely to remember one decisive miss. In 2002, the Croatian missed his penalty in the penalty shoot-out of the DFB Cup quarter-final at the Fritz Walter Stadium. Bayern went on to win 5:3.
- Despite traveling directly from Portugal, 1st FC Union Berlin face a challenging task against Bundesliga rival FC Bayern Munich, as they've never managed to win a competitive match against Bayern and have only picked up one point away from them.
- Union Berlin's attacker Kevin Volland holds a record against Bayern Munich, having scored the fastest goal in Bundesliga history against them, just nine seconds into the game for TSG Hoffenheim in the 2015/16 season.
Source: www.dpa.com
