A real classic in German football is coming our way this week! FC Bayern are the visitors to Borussia Mönchengladbach in Round 2 of the DFB Cup on Wednesday (20:45 CEST). Find out what as good as guarantees a tense match and which anniversary Robert Lewandowski may well celebrate should he feature here:
1. 100% record for FCB
In the last head-to-head in the cup (a DFB Cup semi-final in March 2012), FCB won 4-2 on penalties.
FC Bayern and Borussia Mönchengladbach have met six times in the DFB Cup (including a replay in the 1987/88 season). In the end, it has always been the men from Munich who've prevailed.
2. Extra-time experts
However, it is often a very tight affair. Five of the last seven cup clashes between the Foals and FCB have gone to extra time, and twice a penalty shoot-out has been needed to separate the sides - in the first encounter, in the 1984 final, and in the last meeting, the 2011/12 semis. Only once did Bayern win by a two-goal margin (Round 2 of the DFB Cup in 2007/08). Will it be as tight as it so often is on Wednesday night?
3. Lewandowski faces up to milestone
FCB goalscorer Robert Lewandowski is set to play his 50th game in the DFB Cup on Wednesday night. If he scores once, he'll have scored 40 goals. Since the founding of the Bundesliga, only four players have achieved and surpassed this mark: Manfred Burgsmüller (40), Klaus Fischer (46), Dieter Müller (48) and Gerd Müller (78).
4. Difficult test away
This year's Bundesliga opener ended in a 1-1 draw at Borussia-Park.
Of the last five away games at Borussia-Park, FC Bayern have only won once (5-1 in March 2019). By contrast, Bayern have suffered three defeats and the 1-1 draw in the sides' previous encounter in August. Whilst that does seem testing for FCB, Bayern can take hope from the fact that Mönchengladbach have been eliminated in their last four home DFB Cup matches.
5. FCB in goalscoring mood
In Round 1 in August, Bayern romped to a 12-0 victory at Bremer SV. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored four goals.
Bayern's 12-0 win in the first round match at Bremer SV was the second highest cup win in the club's history and the highest win in the competition since the 2004/05 season (a 15-0 win for 1. FC Kaiserslautern at FC Schönberg 95). In other competitions, too, FCB have been in serious goal-scoring mood this season. In 14 competitive matches so far, Bayern have scored 3+ goals twelve times and have netted a total of 60 goals.
Bayern won 4-0 at the weekend against Hoffenheim. Check out the key facts from that game here:
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