FC Bayern kicks off Matchday 4 of the Bundesliga on Friday evening against 1. FC Union Berlin. Following their narrow 2-1 victory at SV Elversberg, the Munich team is looking to build on that momentum in front of their home crowd and head into the upcoming international break with another win. There are several factors working in the record champions’ favor—including an impressive home streak.
Following a 5-1 opening-day victory over VfB Stuttgart, Bayern drew 0-0 at Schalke. Last weekend, Vincent Kompany’s team then prevailed 2-1 in Elversberg. With seven points from three games, FCB currently sits in fourth place in the standings.
Union Berlin awaits them on Friday evening. The match kicks off at 8:30 p.m. at the Allianz Arena. For the Munich side, it’s also the last Bundesliga match before the season’s first international break.
To head into the Bundesliga break on a high note, a win is, of course, the goal. In addition, the record champions could extend their impressive home winning streak. The last time Munich lost a game at the Allianz Arena was on January 24, 2026. On that occasion, they lost 1–2 to FC Augsburg.
FC Bayern Team News: Kompany Has a Full Squad to Draw From
In terms of personnel, Vincent Kompany currently has relatively few concerns. After his long injury layoff, Serge Gnabry is now back and was named to the squad for the first time against Elversberg. However, he didn’t get to come off the bench. Gnabry is therefore still waiting for his first appearance this season—and it’s quite possible that will happen against Union Berlin.
Jamal Musiala is also still working his way back into form following his return. The 23-year-old had already played about 33 minutes against Schalke after his extended break. In the Champions League match against Bodo/Glimt, Musiala made his first start of the season and scored his first goal of the season.
With Lennart Karl, Kompany also has another young offensive player at his disposal, one who recently put himself back in the spotlight with his goal in Elversberg.
Following the narrow victory over the promoted team, Kompany is spoiled for choice when it comes to his lineup. This begins right in goal, where Neuer will likely start again. In Elversberg, Jonas Urbig was given the chance to stand between the posts.
Kompany also faces tough decisions in defense: Davies or Brown, Stanisic or Laimer, and who will start at center back?
Things get even more complicated on offense. With Serge Gnabry’s return, Kompany has seven players available for four positions. Against Elversberg, Musiala, Díaz, and Gnabry had to settle for a spot on the bench.
FC Bayern: Neuer – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Musiala, Luis Díaz – Kane
Team News: Union Berlin – The “Iron Ones” Off to a Rough Start
Union Berlin heads to Munich off to a rocky start. Coach Mauro Lustrinelli’s team has managed just one point from its first three Bundesliga matches. A 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt was followed by a lopsided 0-4 loss at Bayer Leverkusen and, most recently, a 1-3 defeat against FC Schalke 04.
The defense—which is usually so solid—is a particular cause for concern for the Berliners. Union has already conceded ten goals in its first three league matches. Following the departures of Danilho Doekhi and Diogo Leite, Lustrinelli is relying on a back four—a visibly difficult adjustment for Union, which has consistently played with a back five in recent years.
Despite the difficult starting position, Union aims to hold its own in Munich with a compact defense, quick transitions, and dangerous set pieces. The Berliners have already been successful this season, particularly on corner kicks.
Head-to-Head
The head-to-head record clearly favors Bayern. In 15 competitive matches against Union to date, the record champions have yet to suffer a defeat. They have recorded nine wins and five draws in their 14 Bundesliga matchups to date, plus another Bayern victory in the DFB Cup. Thus, FCB is maintaining a historic streak.
Things have also gone particularly well for Bayern against Union at the Allianz Arena recently: Bayern has won all of its last five home games against Union, with the last four even ending in shutouts. The last matchup in March ended with a decisive 4-0 victory for Munich.
Prediction
Bayern enters Friday night’s match as the clear favorite. The Munich side has shown this season that they can struggle against compact opponents—the 0–0 draw at Schalke is the best example of this. At the same time, Union has recently shown defensive vulnerabilities, having already conceded ten goals in three league games.
Furthermore, Bayern has once again demonstrated this season just how potent they can be offensively, especially in front of their home crowd: In their two home games so far, the record champions have scored five goals in each.
Added to that is their strong home record against the Berliners. In front of their home crowd, Bayern has won the past five matches against Union, most recently with a convincing 4–0 victory in March.
The Munich side is therefore likely to try to apply pressure from the start and take control of the game early on. Union is expected to play compactly and create danger through counterattacks and set pieces. If Bayern manages to capitalize on its chances more consistently than it did most recently in Elversberg, nothing should stand in the way of a clear home victory.
Expected lineups
FC Bayern: Neuer – Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Musiala, Luis Díaz – Kane
Union Berlin: Rönnow – Trimmel, Querfeld, Uduokhai, Rothe – Kemlein, Aebischer, Schäfer, Khedira – Skarke, Latte, Lath