Union's heart against Bayern's power: David meets Goliath in Berlin

Union and Bayern - same country, completely different football planets.

The first isn't even the biggest club in its own city. Union Berlin may proudly represent the German capital, but it still lives in the shadow of Hertha - though unlike their cross-town rivals, they are at least still in the Bundesliga. Their stadium, the Alte Forsterei, has been standing since 1920. The budget is modest, the ambitions realistic - survival first, mid-table comfort if possible, and a European dream if everything clicks.

The second is Germany's football empire. Bayern Munich, the superpower of Bavaria, the face of German football worldwide. They play at the ultra-modern Allianz Arena, and their bank account could probably buy half the Bundesliga - as they've proved time and again. Thirty-four league titles, sixteen of them in the last twenty seasons.

After nine rounds, Union sit 10th with 11 points, while Bayern lead the way with a perfect 27. The champions haven't dropped a single point.

Even PSG admit: ‘Bayern are the boss‘

So yes, it feels pointless even to ask who’s the favourite ahead of Saturday's clash in the capital (5.30 pm). Still, Berlin's Morgenpresse found a curious way to highlight the contrast - by comparing the two teams' centre-forwards: Serbia's Andrej Ilic and England's Harry Kane.

Both coaches consider their strikers indispensable. Steffen Baumgart has used Ilic in all 11 of Union's matches this season, almost always the full 90 minutes. Vincent Kompany, on the other hand, gave Kane his first rest only last weekend against Leverkusen (3-0), after 14 consecutive starts in all competitions.

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But that's where the similarities end. Statistically, they live in opposite worlds - a reflection of their clubs. The only area where they’re equal? Distance covered. Both have run exactly 87 kilometres in the Bundesliga so far.

Goals? A different story. Ilic is still waiting for his first, while Kane leads the league with 12. The England captain also dominates in touches (357 to 238), successful passes (190 to 74) and dribbles (7 to 1).

Last weekend against Freiburg (0-0), Ilic thought he had finally scored - until VAR intervened. Yet his influence is such that Baumgart wouldn't dream of benching him. He's delivered six assists in 11 games and even scored once in the DFB-Pokal.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 10

Friday

Werder - Wolfsburg 2-1 (0-1)

/Stage 83, Mbangula 90+4 - Svanberg 28/

Saturday

17.30: (4.75) Hamburger (4.35) Dortmund (1.70)

17.30: (2.70) Hoffenheim (4.00) RB Leipzig (2.45)

17.30: (1.40) Leverkusen (5.10) Heidenheim (7.25)

17.30: (14.0) Union Berlin (7.25) Bayern (1.22)

20.30: (2.25) M' gladbach (3.75) Koln (3.15)

Sunday

17.30: (1.85) Freiburg (3.50) St.Pauli (4.40)

19.30: (1.53) Stuttgart (4.60) Augsburg (5.50)

21.30: (1.85) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.90) Mainz (4.00)

***odds are subject to change***