Residents of Köpenick were surprised by a large fireworks display lighting up the night sky, reminiscent of New Year's Eve celebrations. However, the event was actually organized by Union Berlin ultras to mark the club's 60th anniversary. Videos of the extensive pyro show were circulated on the social media platform 'X'. The display included numerous fireworks and pyrotechnics, along with a banner that read "1. FUSSBALLCLUB 60 UNION BERLIN E.V." To celebrate this milestone, Union Berlin has invited its members to a special event at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, starting at 7 pm today. The anniversary festivities will be held at the stadium.

Bayern Munich secured a dominant 5-1 away victory against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Despite a strong first-half performance from Leipzig, highlighted by Romulo's opening goal, Bayern turned the game around in the second half. The equalizer came from Serge Gnabry after a high press from defender Dayot Upamecano forced a mistake, a tactic that has become a key part of Bayern's strategy under Vincent Kompany. Upamecano's overall performance, including his crucial interventions, underscores his development into an outstanding player, with a contract extension expected soon. Further contributions in Bayern's win came from Michael Olise, who recorded three assists and a goal, bringing his season total to 23 goal involvements. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, aged 39, was also pivotal, making several critical saves, including one to deny Yan Diomande an equalizer at 2-1, proving his continued elite status in German football. In other Bundesliga matches, Borussia Dortmund narrowly avoided dropping points at home against St. Pauli. After leading 2-0, Dortmund were pulled back to 2-2, but a late penalty, converted by Emre Can after a VAR-reviewed foul, secured a 3-2 victory. The matchday also saw Hamburg and Borussia Monchengladbach draw 0-0, Wolfsburg draw 1-1 with Heidenheim, and Koln end a long winless run by beating Mainz 2-1, providing much-needed relief for coach Lukas Kwasniok. Hoffenheim continued their strong home form with a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, thanks to a Wouter Burger free-kick that Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken failed to save. The match had significant consequences for Leverkusen, as Flekken suffered a knee ligament injury that will sideline him for an extended period, forcing a change in goal for their upcoming Champions League match and beyond.

The upcoming Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen is a highly anticipated encounter between two teams that have undergone significant turnarounds this season. Both sides have recovered impressively from difficult starts to the 2025/26 campaign. Bayer Leverkusen began the season poorly under new coach Erik ten Hag, suffering a heavy pre-season friendly defeat and an opening Bundesliga loss to Hoffenheim, followed by a dramatic 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen after leading 3-1. This led to the dismissal of Ten Hag. The club then appointed Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand, who has since guided the team to a strong run of form, with just one loss in ten matches across all competitions. Leverkusen now sits fourth in the Bundesliga and is in a position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. RB Leipzig also endured a troubling start, losing 6-0 to defending champions Bayern Munich in their opening match under new head coach Ole Werner. However, the team has rebounded strongly, winning ten of their next thirteen Bundesliga games to climb the standings and challenge near the top of the table, close behind Bayern Munich. The match represents a clash between two in-form teams, with Leverkusen just three points behind Leipzig in the standings. Their pre-winter break meeting will be a key test to determine which side has made the more impressive season turnaround.

FC Barcelona have initiated preliminary discussions with the representatives of Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson regarding a potential transfer this summer, according to journalist Patrick Berger of Sky Germany. The La Liga champions are reportedly seeking a dependable and affordable right-back to serve as backup for Jules Kounde next season. Ryerson, who is under contract with Dortmund until 2028, has been identified as an early target to fulfill this role. While the negotiations are not yet at a concrete or advanced stage, the report indicates there is mutual interest from both Barcelona and the 28-year-old Norwegian international, who is open to a summer move. Ryerson joined Dortmund in January 2023 and has been a consistent performer, contributing five assists in 20 appearances across all competitions during the current campaign. Barcelona's interest stems from their reliance on Jules Kounde at right-back in recent years, despite a dip in his form earlier this season. Manager Hansi Flick temporarily utilized Eric Garcia in that position with success, but Garcia is now being deployed more frequently in midfield and central defense, prompting the club to explore signing a dedicated backup for Kounde.

Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with FSV Mainz 05, with the visitors scoring twice from limited opportunities to disrupt Bayern's unbeaten Bundesliga run. Despite dominating statistically, Bayern conceded from a set-piece and a counter-attack, highlighting a recurring defensive vulnerability. Sporting executive Max Eberl noted that Mainz capitalized on two key actions—a set piece and a second goal—to turn the game around, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of football where dominance can be undone in moments. Bayern's control of the match was undermined by missed chances and defensive lapses, particularly on set-pieces. Mainz's equalizer came from a Kacper Potulski free-kick, followed by Lee Jae-Song's header, before Harry Kane's penalty secured a draw for Bayern. The result underscores Bayern's ongoing struggles defending set-pieces this season, raising questions about defensive reinforcements and consistency as they aim to maintain their league position.

SC Freiburg ended a seven-match losing streak against Borussia Dortmund with a 1-1 draw at home in the Bundesliga. Dortmund started strongly, nearly scoring early through Serhou Guirassy and hitting the post through Carney Chukwuemeka. Their pressure paid off just after the half-hour mark when Ramy Bensebaini's deflected close-range effort gave them the lead. The game turned in the 53rd minute when Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham received a straight red card for a professional foul on Philipp Treu. Despite playing with ten men, Dortmund looked set to hold on until Lucas Höler's spectacular volley in the 75th minute, following a Christian Günter cross, drew Freiburg level. Freiburg thought they had won it late, but Igor Matanović's goal was disallowed for offside. The result moves Freiburg up to ninth place in the table, while Dortmund remains in third, missing an opportunity to close the gap on the league leaders.

Mainz have dismissed head coach Bo Henriksen following a heavy 4-0 loss to Freiburg, a result that leaves the club at the bottom of the Bundesliga table. The team has managed only six points from its first 12 league matches this season, with its sole victory being a 4-1 win against Augsburg in September. Despite leading Mainz to a sixth-place finish and European qualification last season, and a current fifth-place standing in their Conference League group, the club's poor domestic form has prompted this managerial change. Under-23 coach Benjamin Hofmann will assume interim control of the team while the club searches for a permanent replacement. In a departing statement, Henriksen expressed gratitude for his time at the club, praised its staff and fans, and acknowledged that the team was unable to replicate last season's success despite their efforts.

Cologne is poised to feel a sense of justice as Premier League clubs are expected to line up for their homegrown superstar Said El Mala for the second consecutive summer. The club, nicknamed 'The Billy Goats,' considers El Mala the Bundesliga's biggest breakout star this season, and his success is seen as righting the wrongs of losing Florian Wirtz. The pain of Wirtz's departure remains fresh for Cologne, as he joined Liverpool in June for a then British transfer record of £116.5 million. Wirtz, now 22, was developed in Cologne's academy before being signed by Bayer Leverkusen for only £265,000 five years ago. Cologne believes Leverkusen broke a 'gentleman's agreement' regarding youth stars by poaching Wirtz, a move that stung even more when he was later sold for over 400 times his original value. Now, Cologne stands to make a massive profit on El Mala, Wirtz's compatriot, who has taken the Bundesliga by storm this year. The club signed the teenager and his older brother Malek from city rivals Viktoria Koln in 2024, but due to a transfer ban, both were loaned back to the German third-tier side last season. After scoring 13 goals and providing five assists for Viktoria, El Mala joined Cologne this summer on a contract until 2030. The 19-year-old has seamlessly adapted to the two-division jump, scoring a last-gasp equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday. In just 501 minutes across 12 Bundesliga appearances, the 6ft 2in winger has already netted five goals and provided three assists. European football expert Andy Brassell highlighted El Mala's impact, noting he is undoubtedly the star of the team. Brassell described him as a relatively young player with limited first-team experience who dares to dribble, is quick, and has excellent ball control. His fearless style and authentic winger qualities have earned him a rapid call-up to the German national squad, making him an exciting and reassuringly old-fashioned talent to watch.

The tenth matchday of the Women's Bundesliga featured a combination of high-stakes top matches and relegation battles. On Friday, reigning champions Bayern Munich dominated newcomers Union Berlin with a clear 4:0 victory. Saturday saw Eintracht Frankfurt secure a 3:2 win in a chaser duel against record champions VfL Wolfsburg, overcoming an early red card for Nina Lührßen, while Wolfsburg missed a penalty opportunity just before halftime. Sunday's matches included a 1:1 draw in the basement duel between FC Carl Zeiss Jena and SGS Essen, and a comeback win for 1. FC Nürnberg against Hamburger SV, where Nastassja Lein scored the decisive goal after turning around a deficit. In other games, Pauline Bremer netted the winning goal for 1. FC Köln against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, and Werder Bremen climbed to fourth place in the table with a 2:1 victory over RB Leipzig, thanks to Emöke Papai's goal. The matchday will conclude on Monday with a fixture between Freiburg and Leverkusen scheduled for 6 PM.

In the Bundesliga, Stuttgart achieved a 3-2 comeback victory over Augsburg at home, driven by a brace from Deniz Undav. Augsburg took an early lead with Fabian Rieder scoring in the 8th minute, but Stuttgart equalized 10 minutes later through a penalty by Maximilian Mittelstaedt. Augsburg regained the lead midway through the first half with a goal from Han-Noah Massengo, but Undav responded by heading in an Angelo Stiller cross before halftime and scored the winning goal with 10 minutes remaining, again assisted by Stiller. This win marks Stuttgart's sixth victory in their last seven league games, propelling them to fourth place in the table. In Sunday's late game, Eintracht Frankfurt secured a 1-0 home win against derby rivals Mainz, with Japan winger Ritsu Doan scoring the decisive goal late in the match. The first half was lackluster for both teams, but Frankfurt improved after the break, dominating possession. In the 80th minute, Doan dribbled down the right flank, evaded two defenders, and struck a low shot into the net. The result moves Frankfurt up to seventh in the standings, while Mainz remains in the bottom two positions. In the day's other fixture, Freiburg defeated St Pauli with a 2-1 scoreline.

Luis Diaz scored a stunning goal for Bayern Munich in their Bundesliga match against Union Berlin on Saturday, which is being considered a contender for goal of the season. Bayern aimed to continue their winning streak after a midweek Champions League victory over PSG, and Diaz, who joined from Liverpool in the summer, netted a sublime first-half strike for Vincent Kompany's team. Diaz had a week of mixed emotions, having scored a brace against PSG but being sent off in that match due to a dangerous challenge on Achraf Hakimi after a VAR review. Despite this, he started the game against Union Berlin as Bayern sought their tenth consecutive win to start the Bundesliga season. However, Bayern fell behind in the first half when Danilho Doekhi scored his third league goal of the season, but Diaz equalized shortly before halftime by scoring from an impossible angle past goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow. The goal marked Diaz's sixth in the Bundesliga this season, and his teammate Josip Stanisic, who provided the assist, reacted with shock and celebration, highlighting the quality of the finish. Diaz managed to keep a poor pass from Stanisic in play, dribbled past Janik Haberer, and found the far corner from a very tight angle. Since joining Bayern Munich, Diaz has made a significant impact, not only with his goals but also by providing four assists, all for Harry Kane, showcasing a strong partnership. He previously scored the winning goal in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup victory over VfB Stuttgart in August. Bayern are favorites to win the Bundesliga and are performing well in the Champions League, having won all four group stage matches against teams like Chelsea and PSG. However, Diaz will miss Bayern's next Champions League match against Arsenal due to suspension from his red card against PSG. Arsenal, like Bayern, have won all their Champions League games and lead the Premier League, making it a tough challenge for Bayern in the upcoming fixture after the international break.

Paul Simonis, the head coach of Wolfsburg, is officially still in his position but faces serious risk of dismissal following his team's 2-1 defeat to Werder Bremen. If he loses his job, he would become the third coach this season to be sacked after a match against Werder, joining Erik ten Hag and Gerardo Seoane in this unfortunate trend. Statistics from 'transfermarkt.de' reveal that Werder Bremen has emerged as the leading cause of coach dismissals in the German top flight, with 13 instances where opposing coaches were fired after matches against them. This has sparked questions about whether Werder has long been a formidable challenge for embattled coaches, making it a "final boss" in the league. Other teams also contribute significantly to coach job insecurity, with HSV recording 12 dismissals, Augsburg 11, and both Cologne and Schalke at 10 each. Additionally, a group including Dortmund, Gladbach, Bayern, Mainz, and Hannover has each led to nine coach dismissals after unsatisfactory performances by their opponents.

The U-17 World Cup features a match between Brazil and Indonesia scheduled for 12:45 PM, which will be broadcast on SporTV 2 and YouTube via CazéTV. In the Brazilian Championship - Serie B, two matches are set: Athletic Club versus Ferroviária at 7:00 PM, available on ESPN and Disney+ (Standard), followed by Cuiabá against Goiás at 9:30 PM, exclusively on Disney+ (Premium). For the German Championship (2nd Division), two matches are scheduled simultaneously at 2:30 PM: Dynamo Dresden versus Nürnberg, streamed on DFL via OneFootball and YouTube (RC Sport), and Greuther Fürth versus Preussen Münster, accessible through DFL via OneFootball. Additionally, the German Championship includes a match between Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg at 4:30 PM, broadcast on DFL via OneFootball, XSports, SporTV, and YouTube (GOAT).

Arsenal is reportedly interested in signing RB Leipzig's Ivorian forward, Yan Diomande, who has made an impressive start in the Bundesliga after joining the German club this season. His strong performances have attracted attention from several top European clubs, with Arsenal viewing him as an ideal addition to their squad. According to TBR Football, the Gunners plan to closely monitor Diomande's progress, aiming to secure a deal in the near future, especially since RB Leipzig has a history of selling top talent. Diomande's rise in Germany highlights his technical ability, versatility, and potential to develop into a top-class forward, making him a suitable fit for Mikel Arteta's system at Arsenal. He could provide energy, creativity, and depth to the team's attacking options. Given his young age of 18, Arsenal sees an opportunity to nurture his development over time, potentially turning him into a long-term asset for the club. However, Arsenal may face stiff competition from North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are also reportedly tracking Diomande. Tottenham's track record of signing promising young players adds to the competitiveness of the transfer race, as Diomande has been one of the standout talents in Europe this season. This rivalry could intensify towards the end of the season if both clubs actively pursue his signature. Diomande's priority is regular game time to continue his development, which he currently enjoys at Leipzig. Any club interested in signing him would need to offer consistent playing opportunities to avoid hindering his progression. If he maintains his current form, a significant battle between Arsenal and Tottenham is likely to emerge, with both aiming to secure the services of this highly promising talent. For Arsenal, acquiring Diomande would align with their strategy of signing young, high-potential players who can contribute immediately and grow into key roles in the future, thereby strengthening their attacking options.

Bayern Munich, managed by Vincent Kompany, defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in a Bundesliga match, ending Leverkusen's record-breaking run of 37 unbeaten away games that had lasted since May 2023. Bayern dominated the game from the start, with Serge Gnabry scoring the opening goal in the first half, and they built a 3-0 lead by halftime that they maintained throughout. Kompany showcased pragmatic tactics by resting key players like Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, and Michael Olise on the bench, relying on others such as Konrad Laimer and young Tom Bischof, who excelled in defensive roles and contributed assists. This victory extends Bayern's perfect season record to 15 wins in 15 games, highlighting their formidable form under Kompany's leadership, which has been described as transforming the team back into a dominant force. Bayer Leverkusen offered minimal resistance, with a very low expected goals (xG) of 0.02 at halftime and only 0.12 overall, attributed to coach Kasper Hjulmand's overly cautious approach and potential lingering effects from a recent heavy Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain. In other Bundesliga results, Borussia Dortmund won 1-0 against Augsburg, Heidenheim drew 1-1 with Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin and Freiburg played a 0-0 draw, Mainz and Werder Bremen drew 1-1, RB Leipzig defeated Stuttgart 3-1, Borussia Mönchengladbach won 4-0 against St Pauli, Cologne beat Hamburg 4-1, and Wolfsburg lost 2-3 to Hoffenheim.

Liverpool is reportedly showing strong interest in signing Dayot Upamecano from Bayern Munich, with Bundesliga insider Christian Falk indicating that the Reds are prepared to enter the race for the defender. Upamecano's current contract with Bayern has only nine months remaining, making him a potential free agent in the summer, which has attracted attention from multiple clubs. Contract negotiations between Upamecano and Bayern are ongoing, but a key sticking point is the signing-on fee. Upamecano and his agents are demanding a high fee, comparable to the €20 million received by Alphonso Davies in his new deal, but Bayern has so far been unwilling to meet this demand. This issue has delayed an agreement, despite no problems with the base salary. Several top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, are closely monitoring the situation due to Upamecano's potential availability as a free agent. Liverpool's interest is particularly notable as they face a similar scenario with their own French center-back, Ibrahima Konate, who is also in the final year of his contract. Upamecano could potentially replace Konate at Anfield if the latter departs. Bayern Munich remains optimistic about reaching a new agreement with Upamecano, as highlighted by Fabrizio Romano and Falk. The club's sporting director, Christoph Freund, values Upamecano highly, describing him as a leader in the team. However, if the disparity over the signing-on fee persists, it could open the door for Liverpool to make a move in 2026, though Falk suggests Bayern is confident in extending the defender's stay. Liverpool fans are advised to watch this situation closely over the coming weeks and months, as developments could impact both Upamecano's future and the resolution of Konate's contract at Liverpool.

Following the sixth matchday of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, Rune Gjerulff has selected his Team of the Week in a 4-1-4-1 formation, featuring standout players from various matches. Goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe of 1. FC Köln played a crucial role by making several important saves, helping his team secure a clean sheet in their 1-0 victory over Hoffenheim. Yan Couto from Borussia Dortmund was highly active and energetic on the right flank, contributing significantly by scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win against RB Leipzig. Nicolas Capaldo of Hamburger SV delivered a rock-solid defensive performance, winning nine out of twelve duels as his team dominated Mainz with a 4-0 scoreline. Noahkai Banks of Augsburg, handed a rare start, impressed by scoring the opening goal, winning five of nine duels, and completing 88% of his passes in the match. Maximilian Mittelstädt from Stuttgart responded to his omission from the German national team with a strong display, winning eight duels, achieving a 91% pass completion rate, and providing the assist for Stuttgart's winning goal.

Borussia Dortmund secured a 0-2 away victory against Mainz on Saturday, setting a new Bundesliga record by leading at half-time for the 10th consecutive league game, as reported by Opta. Daniel Svensson opened the scoring for Dortmund with his second Bundesliga goal for the club, finishing a swift counter-attack that followed a missed shot by Mainz's Paul Nebel hitting the post. Karim Adeyemi then doubled the lead in the 40th minute with another effective counter-attack, giving Dortmund a 0-2 advantage heading into halftime. The record-breaking streak of leading at half-time spans Dortmund's last 10 Bundesliga matches against teams including Mainz, Wolfsburg, Heidenheim, Union Berlin, St. Pauli, Holstein Kiel, Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim, and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Following the match, coach Niko Kovač praised his team's performance, highlighting their discipline and organization throughout the 90 minutes. He noted that they scored at opportune moments and benefited from a bit of luck with the post incident that led to the first goal, expressing happiness and pride in the team's ability to secure a strong away victory.

ChessBase is re-releasing a timeless classic chess instructional product in the modern ChessBase Media format, featuring brand-new training features. This reissue is priced at €49.90 and aims to allow users to rediscover a masterpiece of chess education. The news also highlights an upcoming chess event, with particular curiosity about when Magnus Carlsen of St. Pauli will begin his season, potentially facing teams like Baden-Baden and the hosts in Heimbach-Weis-Neuwied. Notably, several top players—Aronian, Vachier-Lagrave, Firouzja, and Caruana—will be absent as they are competing in the Grand Chess Tour Finals in São Paulo, Brazil, starting from Sunday. The event schedule specifies that games will commence on Saturday at 14:00 and on Sunday at 10:00, with broadcasts delayed by 15 minutes. A list of individual matches includes Baden-Baden vs. St. Pauli, Viernheim vs. Berlin, Deizisau vs. Werder Bremen, Dresden vs. Wolfhagen, Solingen vs. Bayern Munich, Zugzwang Munich vs. Kirchweyhe, Hamburger SK vs. Heimbach-Weis-Neuwied, and Deggendorf vs. Düsseldorf. Live streaming is planned, with FC St. Pauli intending to provide a stream, though it is not yet available online and will be linked once ready. Additionally, live commentary will be offered by GM Ilja Zaragatski, Angelika "Chessborn" Valkova, and guests, including the players themselves, covering the fixtures for the weekend.

The news discusses the rapid changes in the Bundesliga, where three weeks can significantly alter a team's fortunes, as exemplified by FC Augsburg's current situation under coach Sandro Wagner. Initially signed as a hopeful figure and media asset, Wagner now faces early sporting challenges despite his positive public image. Wagner has successfully enhanced Augsburg's media presence, delivering sharp quotes and extensive press coverage that have made the team a topic of conversation beyond its local region, which is notable for the typically quiet Bavarian Swabia area. His ability to generate headlines is highlighted as a strength, though this does not translate to points on the table. Sportingly, the season started with a surprising 3-1 victory over SC Freiburg, but this result is described as a fluke, with Expected Goals data suggesting Freiburg should have won. Augsburg benefited from opponent errors and efficient chance conversion. Subsequently, a 2-3 loss to Bayern Munich revealed Augsburg's inferiority, as they appeared outclassed, and Wagner's post-match comment claiming equal quality with Bayern was seen as bold but misguided. The situation worsened with a 1-2 loss to St. Pauli and a particularly dismal 1-4 defeat to Mainz, where Augsburg faced fan whistles and Wagner admitted that nearly all players, except the goalkeeper, could have been substituted due to poor performance. This series of results has deepened the team's sporting crisis, overshadowing Wagner's media successes.

Bulinews' Fantasy Bundesliga writers have created squads for the fifth matchday of the season, following specific rules: managers have complete freedom in formations, but each squad must not exceed a budget of 110 million, can include a maximum of three players from the same club, and must be built around low-ownership picks with under 20% selection rate. Additionally, each manager can designate one captain, whose points will be doubled for the matchday. The assembled squad for Matchday 5 consists of nine outfield players: Derrick Köhn from Union Berlin (3.51M, 0% ownership), Ramy Bensebaini from Borussia Dortmund (11.15M, 4%), Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund (13.25M, 1%), Mert Kömür from Augsburg (6.58M, 12%), Fabian Rieder from Augsburg (7.4M, 1%), Vincenzo Grifo from Freiburg (11.61M, 12%), Bilal El Khannouss from Stuttgart (12.25M, 0%), Serge Gnabry from FC Bayern (12.74M, 9%), and Luis Diaz from FC Bayern (21.52M, 17%), who is selected as the captain.

Bayern Munich is scheduled to face Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 8:30pm local time (2:30pm EST), with television coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN Select. The match follows Bayern's impressive recent performances, including a 3-1 Champions League win over Chelsea and a 4-1 Bundesliga victory against Hoffenheim, highlighted by Harry Kane's clutch scoring. Bayern has set a record with 18 goals in their first four Bundesliga matches under manager Vincent Kompany, who rotated the squad in the Hoffenheim game. Historically, Bayern has dominated Bremen, losing only once in their last 31 competitive encounters, though that 1-0 defeat occurred at the Allianz Arena just 20 months ago. Bremen, a four-time Bundesliga champion (1965, 1988, 1993, 2004), has not finished higher than eighth place since the 2009/10 season, indicating their recent struggles. For this match, Kompany is expected to start his best lineup after a six-day break, with potential changes such as Aleksandar Pavlović or Leon Goretzka in midfield and Jonathan Tah possibly replacing Kim Min-jae if fitness is an issue. Bench options include Lennart Karl, Tom Bischof, and Raphaël Guerreiro, while Nicolas Jackson remains a reserve. Bayern will be without injured players Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Hiroki Itō, Josip Stanišić, and Jonas Urbig. Werder Bremen, under new manager Horst Steffen, uses a 4-2-3-1 formation and has earned four points in four Bundesliga matches against a difficult schedule. Key attackers include Romano Schmid and Justin Njinmah, each with two goals, and Bayer Leverkusen loanee Victor Boniface is a rising threat. The match is anticipated to be highly lopsided, with Bayern's strong form and Bremen's injury issues likely making it a tough challenge for the visitors.

AC Milan secured the signing of Christopher Nkunku late in the transfer window, with Bayer Leverkusen also reportedly attempting to acquire the player. The operation progressed rapidly, with major sources indicating that Milan and Chelsea agreed on a deal worth €37 million plus €5 million in bonuses. This move marked a shift in Milan's strategy, as they had been pursuing more natural strikers throughout the summer. The deal was first reported on August 27th by journalists Matteo Moretto and Fabrizio Romano and was finalized on August 28th when Nkunku arrived in Milan. However, on the same day, Bayer Leverkusen made a last-minute attempt to sign the French forward by matching Milan's offer. Nkunku explicitly rejected this, stating his desire to join only Milan and not return to the Bundesliga. After weeks of training at Milanello to regain match fitness, Nkunku made his first start for Milan in a Coppa Italia match against Lecce. He played over 60 minutes, scored an acrobatic goal, hit the post, and drew a red card, marking a strong debut performance for the club.