Goal to reach last 16 in DFB Cup classic

Bayern are away at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Wednesday night in the second round of the DFB Cup (kick-off 20:45 CEST, coverage via our live text commentary and free web radio). These cup clashes have often been dramatic until the end, but on all six previous occasions it’s the men from Munich who have prevailed. Find out everything you need to know ahead of this latest encounter with Gladbach in our preview.

Check out the best photos from Bayern’s final training session before leaving for Mönchengladbach:

Situation for Bayern

Julian Nagelsmann announced in his press conference on Tuesday that he won’t be on the touchline again in Gladbach, having not yet returned a negative COVID-19 test. But the 34-year-old isn’t apprehensive following two commanding 4-0 wins under deputy Dino Toppmöller against Benfica and Hoffenheim. “I’m glad things have gone well so far, we’ve won the games and the boys have marched on. A lot of things have been implemented very well and the boys also have the desire to keep giving everything even when I’m not there,” the Bayern boss said before also warning of a tough task at a sold-out Borussia-Park. “In combination with an emotional stadium”, this is the highest-quality tie in this round of the cup. “We have to go to the limit, like we’ve also done in recent games.”

The opponents

There will be no great secrets in this cup tie. Both teams know each other very well, with this being the third encounter in the last four months after the friendly in July (3-2 win for Gladbach) and the 1-1 draw on the opening matchday of the Bundesliga season. The Foals caused Bayern problems in both games, and their coach Adi Hütter wants to keep that going this time as well. “We did very well in the opening Bundesliga game,” the 51-year-old stated. “We’ve played very well so far at home and want to be brave again.” However, Borussia haven’t managed this season to maintain the level they showed in those matches with FCB. They struggled more than expected in their 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern in the first round of the cup, while they’ve now slipped to 12th in the league after their 1-0 loss at Hertha Berlin at the weekend. “It’s a bit strange because they’ve played intensive football in recent weeks but not got the results they’d have liked,” Nagelsmann noted.

Watch Nagelsmann’s pre-match press conference in full here:

Personnel update

Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies are back in time for this DFB Cup tie. “Everyone’s fit. We’re more or less at full strength,“ Nagelsmann explained, while also confirming that Lucas Hernandez has overcome the “slight calf problem” he had after the Hoffenheim game. It means the only injury absentee is goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, who’s still in recovery training after his knee surgery.

Christoph Kramer is out for Gladbach with a thigh injury. Stefan Lainer has only just returned to training after a broken ankle. Tony Jantschke has also joined them in the treatment room after a face fracture on Sunday and will likely only be back for the second half of the season.

Goretzka and Davies have worked hard on their comebacks and are now ready to face Gladbach:

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: “It’s still one of their strengths that they can counter from deep but also press high with a lot of players. They’re physical across the pitch, not just in terms of speed, and they also have a good plan to play through the opposition press. In combination with the emotional stadium, this away tie is the toughest in this round of the cup. We have to go to the limit, like we’ve also done in recent games.”

Adi Hütter (Borussia Mönchengladbach head coach): “Bayern are on a different level compared to the start of the season. They’re once again one of the strongest teams, not just in Europe but the whole world. But it’s a cup game, which is only about progressing. We’ve defended well in the last five games and allowed little. We need to do that again against Bayern. But we also need to offer more going forward to hurt Bayern.”

Click here for the stats and facts on the Gladbach tie: