Union Saint-Gilloise thrive in underdog role, warns Bayern's Kompany

VIDEO SHOWS: BAYERN MUNICH COACH VINCENT KOMPANY GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST UNION SAINT-GILLOISE, BAYERN MUNICH SQUAD TRAINING  RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MUNICH, GERMANY (JANUARY 20, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. BAYERN MUNICH PLAYERS ON TRAINING PITCH 2. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS DURING RONDO DRILL 3. COACH VINCENT KOMPANY LAUGHING 4. MIDFIELDER ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 5.  FORWARD MICHAEL OLISE PASSING BALL 6. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS DURING RONDO DRILL 7. FORWARD LUIS DIAZ STANDING NEXT TO GOAL 8. KOMPANY ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE 9. (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH COACH, VINCENT KOMPANY, SAYING: "I was the first one in the press conference (as Anderlecht coach between 2020-22). Everyone at Anderlecht was happy back then. 'Union at home? Easy, no problem. We'll win.' And I saw them, and I watched them, and I said back then that they were doing a very, very good job and that they weren't an easy opponent. They'll be competing for titles very soon." 10. KOMPANY SEEN IN CAMERA VIEWFINDER 11. (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH COACH VINCENT KOMPANY, SAYING:     "They're doing a very, very good job and have super talented players. Players who will come back at some point, maybe in the Bundesliga, maybe in the Premier League, and it's a club that has known this underdog role for years and uses it well, and that's why I know they're not a harmless team, and I respect them for their work." 12. FORWARD HARRY KANE 13. MIDFIELDER LENNART KARL TYING HIS SHOES 14. PAVLOVIC AND FORWARD SERGE GNABRY 15. TRAINING UNDERWAY 16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAYERN MUNICH COACH VINCENT KOMPANY, SAYING: "In this case, I think what Union likes the most is that they are the underdog. They can be compact. They can have these hero moments: defending the goal, set pieces, counters, and it's a role that no club in Belgium has done better than Union in the last 5 or 6 years." 17. PLAYERS PASSING THE BALL 18. PAVLOVIC  19. (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYERN MUNICH COACH VINCENT KOMPANY, SAYING (ON JAMAL MUSIALA'S RECOVERY): "Yes, there is a plan, but we are also very flexible. That means every day after training, he is still in constant contact with the medical department. We're still trying to understand what might be better for him in the next game. Is it ten minutes, is it 20 minutes, does he have a little pain, no pain. So, we're still very flexible at this stage. We mustn't forget, it's not true that it's like a second game now. That we're already a week further on. We're only three days further on than against Leipzig." 20. MIDFIELDER JOSHUA KIMMICH AND KANE PASSING BALL 21. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP AND STRETCHING 22. KOMPANY OBSERVING TRAINING 23. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS DOING RUNNING EXERCISES 24. PLAYERS WALKING ACROSS PITCH 25. PLAYERS DOING SPRINTING EXERCISES 26. TRAINING SESSION UNDERWAY STORY: Hosts Bayern Munich should not underestimate Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday (January 21) with the Belgian side at ease in their underdog role, coach Vincent Kompany said on the eve of their encounter. The Bavarians have been in fine form all season and are on the brink of securing a top-eight finish in the Champions League first phase with two matches remaining. They are in second place on 15 points, with the top eight teams advancing automatically to the round of 16. They are undefeated in the Bundesliga and are 11 points clear at the top of the table following their impressive 5-1 comeback win at RB Leipzig on Saturday, and also saw fit-again playmaker Jamal Musiala make a comeback in that game after six months out with a broken leg and ankle. With a 16-3 goal difference in their three matches so far this year, Bayern are firing on all cylinders but for Kompany Wednesday's game will not be a walk in the park. Union sit spot in the Belgian league but are battling for a top-24 finish in Europe that would ensure they go into a playoff for a spot in the knockout stage. They are currently 27th on six points. (Production: Louisa Off, Ulrike Heil)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)