Surprise package Union Berlin aim to keep defying odds in Bayern tilt
The Bavarian side have a strong chokehold on the German top flight, which has seen them lift the league trophy for the last 10 years in a row.
But they have some company this time round.
Borussia Dortmund top the league with 46 points but Bayern and unlikely contenders Union Berlin, who have emerged as one of the stories of the season, are following closely behind.
Promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history in 2019, few would have expected Union to be mounting a potential title charge against one of European football's powerhouses.
But it could well have been in the script given how Die Eisernen (The Iron Ones) surprised the rest of the division with a fifth-placed league finish last term.
And they will want to continue their underdog streak ahead of an intriguing battle away to Bayern on Sunday.
Union's Swiss manager Urs Fischer has worked wonders with the tools at his disposal, operating with a minimal budget compared to that of Bayern and Dortmund.
Union have been sure to use their home games to their advantage. Their 24 points and unbeaten league streak at the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei sees them boast the third-best home record, trailing RB Leipzig by two points.
The club has also prided itself on having a resolute defensive base with their 24 goals conceded a handful more than Bayern's league-leading 21 - another testament to Fischer's coaching.
A trip to the Allianz Arena is a daunting task for any team but Union can take confidence heading to Bavaria given they are unbeaten since the turn of the year, while Bayern have faltered.
Bayern have not been their ruthless selves which in seasons past would have seen them hold an unassailable lead at the top.
Julian Nagelsmann's side have not looked entirely convincing in the second half of term which started with three consecutive draws in January, allowing the likes of Dortmund and Union to close in.
While their form picked up after that, Bayern suffered a late 3-2 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach last Saturday and were clearly hampered by the eight-minute red card shown to central defender Dayot Upamecano.
So, Bayern's upcoming meeting with Union has a different aura to it - a game that will see two very different clubs leave it all out in search of Bundesliga glory.
