Bayern Munich could go top in the Bundesliga when they welcome struggling Union Berlin in Saturday's gameweek 13 encounter at the Allianz Arena.
Thomas Tuchel's men seek a seventh straight win in the competition, while Union hope for another positive result since their managerial change.
Match preview
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Despite playing out a goalless draw with Copenhagen in their final group stage fixture on home turf on Wednesday night, that outcome did not affect Bayern much as they had already claimed top spot in the section.
They return to Bundesliga duty on Saturday, seeking maximum points to take them above Bayer Leverkusen, who welcome Borussia Dortmund the following day.
Tuchel resisted making substitutions in Die Bayern's recent league victory in Cologne, the first time the club has not made a personnel alteration in a league game since facing St. Pauli in December 2010.
Regardless, Tuchel's team did not have trouble securing their sixth win, even if the 1-0 score suggests otherwise, with Harry Kane continuing his outstanding start to life in Germany's top division.
The centre-forward's 18 Bundesliga goals have not only seen him become the first Englishman to score as many — eclipsing Jadon Sancho's 17 — he became the first player in the competition's history to hit 18 strikes in the league's opening 12 rounds.
Second-bottom Union are next on the former Tottenham Hotspur striker's hit list as he seeks to continue his outstanding debut campaign in Bavaria.
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As for Union, Urs Fisher's departure surprised many, even if the club's campaign had descended into chaos after a wretched start.
The final straw was the 4-0 hammering at table-topping Bayer Leverkusen, which came after a creditable Champions League point against Napoli at the Maradona.
Nenad Bjelica has been handed the reins since, and the former Trabzonspor trainer must steer the club away from the dreaded relegation zone to avoid losing their top-flight status after five years.
While the Iron Ones' winless run in all competitions now reads 16 games, they have stemmed the run of defeats — they lost 12 consecutive matches in that run — and have picked up two straight draws.
A point apiece against Augsburg last weekend and at Sporting Braga on Wednesday are a drop in the ocean, but it puts Union on the path to recovery after a challenging 2023-24.
Team News
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Kane returns to league action hoping to add to an impressive 18-goal tally to stay clear of Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy (15) in the scoring charts.
Tuchel has even more injury worries, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (knee), Min-Jae Kim (hip) and Noussair Mazraoui (illness) missing Wednesday's draw with Copenhagen, thus joining Jamal Musiala (hamstring), Matthijs de Ligt (knee) and Tarek Buchmann (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Leonardo Bonucci returned to the squad on Wednesday, but it remains to be seen if Bjelica will start the veteran defender on his first Bundesliga outing as the club's trainer.
However, the Iron Ones may be without Sheraldo Becker and Danilho Doekhi, who are carrying knocks and are touch-and-go for Saturday.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Kratzig, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Muller, Sane; Kane
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Juranovic, Knoche, Leite, Roussillon; Khedira; Volland, Tousart, Laidouni, Gosens; Behrens
We say: Bayern Munich 3-1 Union Berlin
Despite firing blanks on Wednesday, Bayern should return to winning ways in the league against Union, stopping the Iron Ones' two-game run in all competitions without losing.
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