Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
*Note: it's mandatory to listen to Eminem's 'Without Me' while having a gander at this preview.
But instead of Slim Shady making a return, it's the commodity which unites humanity, helps us maintain our sanity; voetbal, fútbol, soccer, call it what you will - apart from the latter - emerging from hibernation after the best part of two months off.
It's the real stuff, too – the Belarusian top flight and K-League can only keep us entertained for so long.
The land of pure entertainment, transitional efficiency and, of course, ridiculously high defensive lines is the pioneer for elite football in a post-pandemic world, as the Bundesliga makes its comeback this weekend - with Sunday's evening fixture between surprise package Union Berlin and Hansi Flick's imperious Bayern Munich rounding things off for the weekend (if not the round; there's still a Monday game).
Urs Fischer's side have exceeded expectations this term to sit 11th in the Bundesliga table with nine games to go, while Bayern currently hold a four point lead at the top in their chase for an eighth consecutive Meisterschale.
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach are all hot on their heels, however, in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the title race.
Where to Watch
When is Kick Off?: Sunday 17 May
What Time is Kick Off?: 17:00 (BST)
Where is it Played?: Stadion An der Alten Försterei
TV Channel/Live Stream: BT Sport (UK), fuboTV (US)
Referee: TBC
Team News
Summer signing Sheraldo Becker is set to miss out with a thigh issue, while impressive centre-half Marvin Friedrich is suspended following his sending off at Freiburg last time out.
There are also concerns about the fitness of top scorer Sebastian Andersson (knee) and creative midfielder Akaki Gogia.
As for the visitors, they'll certainly be without Philippe Coutinho and Corentin Tolisso after the pair underwent ankle surgery last month. Recent reports, meanwhile, have suggested that the Brazilian could be out for the remainder of the campaign.
And despite Niklas Sule's progress from an ACL rupture, this clash will come too soon for him to make a return.
Predicted Lineups
Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Hübner, Schlotterbeck, Subotic; Trimmel, Gentner, Andrich, Lenz; Malli, Bülter; Andersson.
Bayern: Neuer; Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Thiago; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski.
Head-to-Head Record
Remarkably, the reverse fixture at the Allianz Arena back in October was the first competitive fixture between these two sides.
On that occasion, goals from Benjamin Pavard and Robert Lewandowski guided a Bayern team then helmed by Niko Kovac's to a 2-1 win over a spirited Union side.
'Recent' Form
The transformation of this Bayern side under Flick has been nothing short of remarkable. In the space of months they've gone from uninspiring title outsiders to, well, the best team on the planet - certainly the finest to watch, at least.
Their sophisticated pressing schemes and frighteningly fluid positional play is akin to the Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola eras, allowing them to overwhelm their opponents in all phases of play.
They were unbeaten in 11 Bundesliga encounters before the suspension, while their spellbinding second-half display away at Chelsea had put them in a commanding position to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Union, meanwhile, have upset the odds to sit 12 points clear of the automatic relegation places with nine games to go.
Urs Fischer's success in the top flight has been based around stringent organisation and rapid counter-attacking play down the flanks, while Keven Schlotterbeck and Andersson have impressed at opposite ends of the pitch.
They did, however, suffer back-to-back defeats before the break away at Gladbach in the DFB-Pokal and Freiburg in the league.
Nevertheless, here's how the pair have fared in their last five outings.
Union Berlin
Freiburg 3-1 Union Berlin (07/03)
Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Union Berlin (04/03)
Union Berlin 2-2 Wolfsburg (01/03)
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Union Berlin (24/02)
Union Berlin 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen (15/02)
Bayern
Bayern 2-0 Augsburg (08/03)
Hoffenheim 0-6 Bayern (29/02)
Chelsea 0-3 Bayern (25/02)
Bayern 3-2 Paderborn (21/02)
FC Koln 1-4 Bayern (16/02)
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund and Gladbach know just how difficult a place Stadion An der Alten Försterei can be to play, but with this one played behind closed doors you've got to fancy Bayern in this one.
Although there will be chances for the hosts to exploit Die Roten's high defensive line and the voids left behind by surging full-backs, this Bayern side are just too in sync with one another going forward, while you can expect Thiago, i.e. Europe's supreme midfielder this term, to run the show once more alongside Joshua Kimmich in the middle of the park.
Predicition: Union Berlin 0-3 Bayern Munich