Away Against FC Bayern
Union’s Women Face the Defending Champions
On Friday evening, 1. FC Union Berlin’s women’s team will face league leaders and reigning double winners FC Bayern München on matchday 10 of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Kick off at the Bayern Campus is at 18:30
The lie of the land
FC Bayern are in impressive form so far this season and celebrated a 6-0 home victory in Tuesday's derby against 1. FC Nürnberg – their highest win of the season so far. After nine games, head coach José Barcala's side have picked up an impressive 25 out of a possible 27 points and remain unbeaten in the league.
Union, on the other hand, failed to pick up any points on Tuesday. Weakened by injuries, they lost 4-1 to VfL Wolfsburg, though still sit in 8th place in the table after nine games.
FC Bayern München have been playing continuously in the top flight since 2000 and have since established themselves as one of the most successful teams in women's football. Numerous titles demonstrate this: league titles in 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025, DFB Pokal wins in 2012 and 2025, Bundesliga Cup titles in 2003 and 2011, and the Super Cup win in 2025.
Last season marked a highlight in the club's storied history. With the best defence and the second-best attack in the league, Bayern had an almost flawless season. They remained unbeaten post-Christmas, and that 33 out of a possible 33 points meant a well-deserved league and cup double. In the Champions League, however, their run came to an end in the quarter-finals against Olympique Lyon.
The summer then brought a major shake-up. Eight players left the double winners, including well-known names such as Sydney Lohmann, Julia Zigiotti Olme and Linda Sembrant. But the squad was strengthened with just as many new signings. Particularly noteworthy are Austrian international Barbara Dunst from Eintracht Frankfurt, Angel City FC’s Vanessa Gilles and Stine Ballisager from ACF Fiorentina. There is also a new face on the touchline. Spaniard José Barcala (previously of Servette FC Chênois Féminin) took over as head coach in the summer as Alexander Straus moved to Angel City FC in the USA after three years at FCB.
Bayern have started from where they left off last season; celebrating a 2-0 victory over Leverkusen in front of 57,762 fans at the Allianz Arena – a new attendance record in German women's football. This was followed by eight wins in nine games and 31 goals scored. The only two negatives are the long-term absence of Lena Oberdorf and the 7-1 Champions League defeat, away against FC Barcelona.
Two key players are currently in the spotlight. Lea Schüller scored her 100th competitive goal for FC Bayern on matchday eight, moving her up to 15th place in the all-time scoring charts. The 27-year-old international striker has now scored a total of 134 goals in 240 Bundesliga appearances. Klara Bühl, meanwhile, not only tops the national scoring charts, but also shines as the best assist provider in the Bundesliga. With four goals and ten assists, she currently leads the scoring charts with 14 points.
From 2015 to 2018, Leonie Köster wore the FC Bayern shirt, active in both the B-Juniorinnen-Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga during that time. The Munich native celebrated two major successes during this phase. First the German championship title with the B-Juniorinnen, and later – in 2019 – the 2. Liga title.
Union's coaching team will have to do without Anna Aehling, Cara Bösl, Hannah Eurlings, Jenny Hipp, Korina Janez, Leonie Köster, Athanasia Moraitou, Mariann Noack, Tanja Pawollek, Naika Reissner, Fatma Şakar and Melanie Wagner on Friday.
“Bayern München are the absolute top team in the league. We're travelling to Munich with a lot of team spirit, passion and unity. That's exactly what we want to bring to the pitch and then see what's possible for us.”
The match will be broadcast live on Magenta Sport and DAZN in Germany, as well as for free on DAZN in the UK. Union will provide live updates in English on Twitter, and as ever an exclusive match report will follow the final whistle.
