After succumbing to a goalless draw with FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday, Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel spent his Friday press conference finding new ways to demand an improved display.
"We need to raise the tempo and play with more bite," Tuchel declared ahead of Union Berlin's visit to the Allianz Arena. Bayern's manager admitted that he has "to make sure we flick the switch" so that the team can "take it up a notch".
Yet, all of that motivational rhetoric went to waste. On the morning of Bayern's scheduled league match against Union Berlin on Saturday 2 December, the club revealed that the fixture had been postponed.
Here's why the likes of Harry Kane and Leroy Sane will not be able to fulfil Tuchel's demands as planned this weekend.
Why has Bayern Munich's Bundesliga game against Union Berlin been postponed?
A little more than five hours before the scheduled 14:30 (GMT) kick off, Bayern released a statement explaining that Saturday's contest had been called off "due to heavy snow overnight".
Bayern's Allianz Arena, which will host the opening game of next summer's Euro 2024 in less Arctic conditions, is equipped with undersoil heating to prevent frozen pitches. However, the change in plans did not solely revolve around the ability to get 22 men and a ball on the pitch. The 70,000 fans travelling to the game also had to be considered.
"Even if it had been possible to get the pitch at the Allianz Arena in a condition that would have allowed the match to go ahead by the afternoon, safety risks and the traffic situation made cancellation unavoidable," Bayern's club statement read.
"Snow falling from the roof at the Allianz Arena poses an incalculable risk for spectators. In addition, it is almost impossible to get to the stadium. Countless buses and trains are cancelled, many roads and motorways are completely closed, the underground line U6, which runs to Frottmaning and the Allianz Arena, has been suspended.
"The Munich police recommend that people do not leave their homes."
Flights into Munich have also been postponed until midday, impinging the travel of overseas supporters hoping to see a clash between the reigning Bundesliga champions and the side currently sitting at the bottom of the table.
Bayern's CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen added: "We very much regret that we have to postpone the match, but the safety of our fans and the supporters of Union Berlin has absolute priority. In addition, access to the Allianz Arena is not guaranteed due to numerous road closures and various public transport cancellations."
When will Bayern Munich's postponed match against Union Berlin be rescheduled?
No date has yet been offered for the rearranged fixture. "FC Bayern will provide information on the rescheduling of the match as soon as a new date has been agreed with the Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL)," the club revealed. "Tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled match."
Despite the third round of the DFB Pokal taking place this midweek, there is some wiggle room in the calendars of Bayern and Union.
Courtesy of a humiliating DFB Pokal defeat to third-tier Saarbrucken at the start of November, which Kane watched as an unused substitute, Bayern have a free week to prepare for their next Bundesliga fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday 9 December.
Union were also knocked out of the German cup in the second round - after a less surprising 1-0 loss to high-flying Stuttgart - leaving a clear window of availability open this midweek.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Why Harry Kane & Bayern Munich won't be playing in the Bundesliga today.
