Union Berlin

That the German champions' domestic struggles — Bayern have won just two of their last six in the league — left the door open should not be surprising, but that ...

Hoffenheim face Dortmund, the league’s most in-form side, on Saturday. Only one other side, last-placed Schalke, is winless in the new year (two losses and four 0-0 draws in succession). The manager, who apologised for the outburst, agreed to pay a 50,000 euro ($53,000) fine instead. It must be our goal to constantly deliver top performances,” the CEO told German sport site Kicker. 18/18 – With six wins from six games in 2023 — along with victories in the German Cup and the Champions League against Chelsea — Borussia Dortmund have come from nine points behind to close the gap on Bayern. Union boss Urs Fischer, who brought the side up from the second division, showed little disappointment after his team missed their chance to go two points clear on Sunday, reminding his team and the fans how far they have come – and where they are now.

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

[Dayot Upamecano](/people/dayot-upamecano/) is suspended for Sunday's clash after picking up a straight red card inside eight minutes against Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend. [Matthijs de Ligt](/people/matthijs-de-ligt/) is expected to replace Upamecano in the starting XI, while [Leroy Sane](/people/leroy-sane/), [Jamal Musiala](/people/jamal-musiala/) and [Joao Cancelo](/people/joao-cancelo/) are all in contention to return to the side after coming off the bench in the previous league outing. [Bayern Munich](/football/bayern-munich/) and [Union Berlin](/football/union-berlin/) locked on 43 points at the summit of the [Bundesliga table](/football/bundesliga/table.html), Sunday's showdown at the Allianz Arena is destined to have a big impact on the title race.

FC Union Berlin players celebrate a goal during Thursday's Europa League match versus Ajax at Stadion an der alten Försterei in Berlin, Germany.

Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann understands the importance of Sunday's match against Union Berlin. “I'm expecting a top game.

“Thomas is a very experienced player, he was told why the decision (against Gladbach) was made. (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting) had a bit of a neck problem, (Kingsley Coman) trained again today. He’s a very important player,” Nagelsmann said. “The boys trained very well, with a lot of commitment. Daley can give us a lot of options as a build-up player. Matthijs has a lot of character, he loves to defend.

Twenty-one rounds of the 2022-23 German Bundesliga have passed, and the top three teams are on level points. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Union ...

Speaking of Union Berlin supporters, they’re famous as the most passionate, as well as the most creative bunch in Germany. Bayern Munich is the best team in Germany, and anything but a home win on Sunday would be a huge surprise. On the contrary, we expect to see a real battle on the pitch of Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin is a game that could prove crucial in the 2023 Bundesliga title race. It was the year 2019 when Union Berlin were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history. In fact, Sunday’s game between Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin could prove crucial for them later on.

All eyes across Europe will turn to a top-of-table clash this weekend that could see Bayern or Union go top in the Bundesliga.

He’s got seven goals and four assists in the league this season, but his contribution can’t be quantified by stats. [Union Berlin](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/02/germany-bundesliga/1136455-union-berlin-v-mainz-bundesliga-preview-gameweek-19-202223.html) [Jamal Musiala.](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/01/germany-bundesliga/1136416-vfl-wolfsburg-vs-bayern-munich-bundesliga-matchday-19-preview-2023.html) [VAVEL](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2021/01/17/germany-bundesliga/1055520-ingolstadt-04s-only-english-member-a-conversation-with-alex-howell.html). [World Cup.](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/09/germany-bundesliga/1137200-werder-bremen-vs-borussia-dortmund-bundesliga-preview-gameweek-20-2023.html) It was a shock for Bayern and the whole Bundesliga. [Bayern ](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/12/germany-bundesliga/1137565-four-things-we-learnt-fromrb-leipzig-v-union-berlin.html)is the potential return of summer signing [Sadio Mane.](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/01/18/germany-bundesliga/1134997-rb-leipzig-v-bayern-munich-bundesliga-preview-gameweek-16-202223.html) [Bayern Munich](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/22/champions-league/1138453-pre-match-analysis-rb-leipzig-vs-manchester-city.html) [Bundesliga](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/23/germany-bundesliga/1138583.html), before being held by [Schalke ](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/02/germany-bundesliga/1136476-borussia-monchengladbach-vs-fc-schalke-04bundesliga-preview-gameweek-19-202223.html)last weekend. [Union Berlin](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/16/germany-bundesliga/1137940-ajax-0-0-union-berlin-lacklustre-ajax-hold-union-berlin-in-amsterdam.html) are genuine title contenders. [Borussia Monchengladbach](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/09/germany-bundesliga/1137217-b.html) last Saturday. [Bayern Munich](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/13/germany-bundesliga/1137658-are-borussia-monchengladbach-in-trouble.html) and [Borussia Dortmund](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/22/germany-bundesliga/1138475-tsg-1899-hoffenheim-vs-borussia-dortmund-bundesliga-preview-gameweek-22-2023.html) and the minnows of [Union Berlin](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/21/germany-bundesliga/1138352-are-we-finally-set-for-a-bundesliga-title-race.html) and [SC Freiburg](https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2023/02/09/germany-bundesliga/1137212-sc-freiburg-vs-vfb-stuttgartbundesliga-preview-gameweek-20-2023.html) all separated by just three points.

FC Union Berlin now stands tall atop the German league, level on points with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, as the ultimate antidote to soccer's rampant ...