Arguably the comeback story of the season, Borussia Monchengladbach welcome table-toppers Bayern Munich to Borussia Park for a first against fourth clash.
The hosts lost their first five matches of the season, bringing about the well-documented resignation of Lucien Favre, while Bayern have not lost at all in the league and have dropped points on only one occasion.
Die Fohlen have now gone nine matches unbeaten in the league, drawing only twice, one of which was the brilliant comeback from two goals down against Hoffenheim in their last outing. Injuries to Ibrahima Traore and Andre Han during their run have been the only blight on a season that has otherwise seen a serious upturn in fortunes.
For Bayern, well, this is their league. 14 matches, 13 wins and one draw paints the only picture really needed, and they have emphatically batted away anyone who has dared challenge them. They demolished Borussia Dortmund, the only side that ever really look to challenge them, and Jens Lehmann spoke recently of the next challenge for the side to “have an unbeaten Bundesliga season.” The two clashes between these sides last season saw a win for Gladbach, and a draw in the reverse fixture, but this season Bayern already seem a very different beast.
Key Battle – Granit Xhaka vs Xabi Alonso/Arturo Vidal
The marshal of Gladbach’s midfield will meet arguably the best central duo in the league, and how the midfield battle shapes up will be the mitigating factor in this clash. Xabi Alonso and Arturo Vidal are two of the key distributors in this Bayern side, and their ability to dissect a defence with their raking wide balls was a key to seeing them take apart Dortmund earlier this season. Both men sit in the 90% bracket for their pass accuracy, so disrupting their flow and time on the ball will be key.
Xhaka is arguably the key man for Gladbach through the centre of the park, and he will also likely be pressured heavily when carrying the ball. The Swiss is simultaneously the point of creation for attacks but also their first line of defence and his influence will cause problems for Bayern.
While battles will rage at both ends of the park throughout and Douglas Costa will be a seriously key figure for Bayern if he plays, the central battle is likely to be where this game begins to be decided.
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Team News
With Josip Drmic beginning to elicit some good form from his newly found wide position, including a goal against Hoffenheim last weekend, he will likely be given a run out wide once more. Particularly in the absence of the injured Ibrahima Traore and Andre Hahn, Andre Schubert’s wide options have been thinned slightly, a primary reason for the shift in Drmic’s starting role.
Harvard Nordtveit will likely start alongside Andreas Christensen in defence, however, the shipping of three goals by the pair last weekend may lend itself to a return for Tony Jantschke, who sat on the bench that match. Schubert may look for experience and resilience over youthfulness against Bayern.
Borussia Monchengladbach expected XI: Sommer; Korb, Christensen, Nordtveit, Wendt; Traore, Dahoud, Xhaka, Johnson; Stindl, Raffael
This lineup is merely a replica of that fielded by Pep Guardiola in last weekend’s win over Hertha Berlin, and the Bayern setup must be one of the toughest in the world to accurately predict – such is the tactical versatility offered by so many of the players. Jerome Boateng was moved from his normal post in central defence, instead helping to anchor the midfield with Alonso and Vidal and may well do the same this time out. Guardiola’s use of unorthodox formations and tactical movement is highly regarded in the football world, and Bayern have arguably been his best example of that. Costa did not feature in the matchday squad last weekend and along with Arjen Robben, is still in some doubt for this clash on the road.
Bayern Munich expected XI: Neuer; Lahm, Martinez, Benatia, Rafinha; Boateng, Alonso, Vidal; Muller, Lewandowski, Coman
Head-to-head
The last eight encounters in the league between these sides have resulted in three wins apiece with two draws, with Gladbach taking home the bacon last season with a win and a draw to their name. While evenly matched over recent years in the league, the continuing empowerment of Bayern as the league heavyweights has seen the gap grow steadily wider.
Previous Meeting
On the 23rd March earlier this year, a confident Gladbach side rolled into the Allianz Arena and took the game to the Champions elect, beating them 2-0 on their home turf. Two goals to forward Raffael saw the three points travel back to Borussia-Park in what was a shock to onlookers and the home side themselves.
Prediction
One undefeated run is going to come to an end here. Will it be Bayern’s undefeated start to the season? Or will it be Gladbach’s seemingly improbable nine-match run without defeat? As mentioned earlier, the midfield battle is likely to define this clash with both sides having key players sat there, however, there is one other man on the field who can change any match in an instant. Robert Lewandowski is a man on a mission this seaso and as feel-good a story a Gladbach win would be here, the Pole will score, like he always seems to, and Bayern will record a 2-1 win on the road.
Borussia Monchengladbach 1 Bayern Munich 2
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