Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich preview: Leaders out to continue red-hot form | OneFootball

Gladbach

Gladbach are still searching for their first Bundesliga win of the season after drawing three and losing four of their opening seven league matches. Die Fohlen failed to take anything from last Saturday’s away clash against Union Berlin. Haris Tabaković halved the deficit after Danilho Doekhi netted an early brace, but Gladbach’s hopes of salvaging a positive result were ended by Rani Khedira’s 81st-minute effort.

As a result of their poor start to the season, Gladbach are lying at the foot of the Bundesliga standings, sitting a point away from the relegation playoff spot and two points adrift of safety. Gladbach are the league’s joint-lowest scorers with six goals, while they also have the division’s third-worst defensive record with 15 goals conceded.

Given their struggles this term, there will be a sense of trepidation around the Gladbach camp ahead of an almighty test against the league leaders. They will be desperate to make a positive start to the contest by scoring the first goal in a Bundesliga match for the first time this season. 

Team News

Gladbach interim boss Eugen Polanski is unable to call upon Nathan Ngoumou, Fabio Chiarodia, Tim Kleindienst and Robin Hack. 

Predicted lineup: Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Sander, Diks, Ulrich; Honorat, Reitz, Engelhardt, Castrop; Tabaković

Bayern Munich

Bayern are Europe’s in-form team, having become the first club in Europe’s top five leagues to start a season with 12 successive victories in all competitions. The Bavarians claimed the 11th of those 12 wins in last Saturday’s crucial Bundesliga clash against Borussia Dortmund, which saw Harry Kane and Michael Olise find the net in a 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena.

Vincent Kompany’s charges experienced more home success in Wednesday’s Champions League game against Club Brugge. Lennart Karl scored his first senior goal, before Kane, Luis Díaz and Nicolas Jackson all found the net in a 4-0 rout. As a result, Bayern are sitting in second place in the league phase after three matches, boasting a perfect record with Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, Arsenal and Real Madrid.

They will now turn their attention back to their Bundesliga title defence, with the reigning champions boasting a five-point lead over RB Leipzig at the top of the standings. They are comfortable the league’s highest scorers with 27 goals, while they also boast the Bundesliga’s best defensive record with just four goals conceded in seven matches.

Bayern will be the overwhelming favourites to take maximum points against struggling Gladbach, especially as they have won their last four head-to-head meetings, including a 2-0 home success in May. 

Team News

Bayern remain without the injured trio of Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Hiroki Ito. However, Josip Stanišić and Serge Gnabry should be available after shaking off their respective injury issues. Meanwhile, Kompany has revealed that goalkeeper Jonas Urbig will get the chance to start on Saturday.

Predicted lineup: Urbig; Boey, Tah, Kim, Laimer; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Kane, Diaz; Jackson