Winless Borussia Monchengladbach are all set to host league leaders Bayern Munich, who have a perfect record so far.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich will be eyeing their eighth straight win in the Bundesliga when they hit the road to face Borussia Monchengladbach, who are struggling to get things going.
The home team have endured a disastrous start to the new campaign as they are yet to win a game. Die Fohlen are bottom of the points table with just three points in their seven outings. Gladbach are the only team in the German top flight that has yet to win a game this season.
Eugen Polanski’s men are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Union Berlin, and given their recent form, going up against Bayern Munich certainly won’t be easy for them. Meanwhile, the visitors are sitting at the top of the table with a perfect record. Seven wins in as many outings, and they have already established a five-point lead at the top.
After beating rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich smashed Club Brugge 4-0 in the UEFA Champions League, and now they will be looking to secure yet another win against Monchengladbach. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Monchengladbach
The home team will be without the services of Robin Hack, Nathan N’Goumou, and Tim Kleindienst. Apart from the trio, everyone else is expected to be available for selection for Borussia Monchengladbach against Bayern Munich.
Borussia Monchengladbach will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Moritz Nicolas will be in goal. Joe Scally and Luca Netz will feature as the full-backs, while Nico Elvedi will pair up with Kevin Diks in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Yannik Engelhardt will start alongside Philipp Sander and Rocco Reitz in the centre of the park. The Borussia Monchengladbach midfield trio will look to ensure the Bayern Munich midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Franck Honorat and Jens Castrop will feature on the flanks in the final third, while Haris Tabakovic will lead the line for Borussia Monchengladbach against Bayern Munich at Borussia Park on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Diks, Netz; Reitz, Engelhardt, Sander; Honorat, Tabakovic, Castrop
Bayern Munich
The German champions remain without the services of Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies, and Jamal Musiala. Since Vincent Kompany does not have any fresh injury concerns, he could pretty much name the same XI that started against Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Manuel Neuer will continue in goal. Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah will pair up in the central defensive partnership, and they will have the support of Sacha Boey and Konrad Laimer, who will take charge as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Joshua Kimmich will form the double pivot alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic in the middle of the pitch. The duo will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game.
Michael Olise and Luis Diaz should continue on the flanks, while Harry Kane could once again be deployed as a number ten behind Nicolas Jackson, who should spearhead the Bayern Munich attack against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Kane, Diaz; Jackson
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have won all seven of their league games so far.
- Meanwhile, Borussia Monchengladbach are the only winless team in the league. (D3 L4)
- The hosts have conceded ten goals in their last four league outings, while scoring just five.
- Vincent Kompany are one of the most in-form teams in Europe, having won all their 12 games.
- The Bavarians have found the back of the net on three or more occasions in 10 of those outings.
Player to Watch
Nicolas Jackson
On loan from Chelsea, the Senegalese international has certainly made the most out of the limited opportunities he has had at Bayern Munich. While he is yet to score in the Bundesliga, he has three goal contributions in as many Champions League outings.
The 24-year-old has certainly done an impressive job in the number nine role, and with Harry Kane taking up the attacking midfield role, Jackson should continue to feature from the start. He will be eager to get on the scoresheet against Borussia Monchengladbach, having failed to find the back of the net in the league so far.
Prediction
Borussia Monchengladbach 0-4 Bayern Munich
Borussia Monchengladbach’s struggles show no signs of slowing down, and facing a Bayern Munich side in ruthless form could make things worse. The hosts have failed to win a single game this season and continue to look shaky at both ends of the pitch.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, are flying high with a perfect record in the league and will be eager to extend their winning run to eight games. With the likes of Kane, Diaz and Olise in top form, Die Roten are expected to dominate proceedings from the start and should have little trouble picking up all three points. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 4-0 win for the league leaders.
