Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has warned his players against losing focus ahead of Friday’s Bundesliga match against Union Berlin.
The German champions will welcome Union to the Allianz Arena in their final league fixture before the international break. The match is scheduled to begin at 8.30pm Central European Summer Time, or 7.30pm in the United Kingdom.
Kompany acknowledged that matches immediately before international breaks can be difficult because players may already be thinking about joining their national teams. However, he insisted that Bayern’s immediate priority must be securing three points at home.
Bayern looking to maintain pressure
Bayern enter the fourth matchday of the Bundesliga season with seven points from three matches. They are two points behind early leaders Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund.
A victory would move Kompany’s side to the top of the table, at least temporarily, and maintain their unbeaten start to the league campaign.
Bayern defeated newly promoted Elversberg 2-1 in their previous match, with Harry Kane scoring the decisive goal. The result followed a goalless draw against Schalke, making Friday’s fixture another important test of the champions’ early-season consistency.
Union Berlin have endured a more difficult opening. They have collected one point from their first three matches and sit close to the bottom of the table after defeats against Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke.
Despite their opponents’ poor start, Kompany is not expecting an easy match.
Kompany expects tactical changes
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Kompany described Union as a team undergoing significant changes under their new coaching structure.
“Union are in transition,” the Bayern coach said, according to the club’s official account of the press conference.
Kompany said Bayern must be prepared for tactical surprises because Union are still developing their identity. He also noted that opponents have approached Bayern in different ways this season, requiring his team to recognise changes quickly and adjust during matches.
Union’s defensive record will be a concern for their coaching staff. The Berlin side have conceded 10 goals in their opening three league fixtures, including four against Bayer Leverkusen and three against Schalke.
Bayern, however, will still need to avoid complacency. Union’s willingness to change their approach could make their exact formation and strategy difficult to predict.
Gnabry available for selection
Kompany also confirmed that Serge Gnabry is available for the match after returning to fitness.
The Germany international has been unavailable for competitive action, but he has resumed training and could receive playing time against Union. Kompany values Gnabry’s ability to operate across several attacking positions, giving Bayern another option as they manage the squad before the international break.
His availability strengthens an attack already led by Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. Kane has started the season in strong scoring form and will again be expected to lead Bayern’s attack at the Allianz Arena.
Kompany praised Bayern’s medical and fitness staff for helping the squad remain in good condition. He will hope that players selected for international duty return without injury ahead of the next phase of the season.
Final task before the break
The match gives Bayern an opportunity to enter the break at the top of the Bundesliga and build momentum before domestic and European fixtures resume.
For Union, it is a chance to respond to a difficult start and produce what would be their first Bundesliga victory over Bayern.
Kompany’s message is straightforward: Bayern must put thoughts of international football aside and complete the immediate task in front of them.
