The first match of 2022 is almost here! FC Bayern kick off the second half of the Bundesliga season at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday night (20:30 CET). After the 1-1 draw in the opening match of the season and the 5-0 defeat in the DFB Cup, Julian Nagelsmann’s side are aiming for a first win over the Foals this season in what is a classic Bundesliga fixture - and could equal a goalscoring record in the process! We’ve collated the pertinent facts and figures on the match for you:
1. Bundesliga classic
Bayern and Borussia meet for the 108th time in the German top flight. Only the fixture between FCB and Werder Bremen has been played more often in Bundesliga history (110 times). No team has won as many games against Gladbach as Bayern (51), and at the same time the Munich men have haven’t lost more often to any other side (26, same as Bremen). Borussia have conceded 207 goals against Bayern but have also scored 135 - both club records.
2. New goal record beckons for FCB
What an incredible run! Bayern have scored in each of their last 64 Bundesliga matches and if they find the net again on Friday, the Munich men will equal the record of scoring in 65 consecutive games, which they set themselves between 2012 and 2014.
3. Bayern strong starters
First game of 2022, first three points? Bayern have started as they meant to go on in recent years, winning their last six opening Bundesliga matches of the year - by an aggregate score of 20-4! The last time the Bavarians began the new calendar year without a victory was in January 2015, when they lost 4-1 at Wolfsburg. At home, FCB are unbeaten in eight year openers since a 3-1 loss to Stuttgart in 1984.
4. Bayern more prolific than ever
What a first half of the season it was! Nagelsmann’s men went into the winter break in first place with 43 points - the highest tally since Pep Guardiola’s team in 2015/16 (46) - and 56 goals scored. No team have had more goals to their name after 17 matchdays since the formation of the Bundesliga. Gladbach’s tally of 19 points, in contrast, represents their worst first half of a Bundesliga campaign since 2016/17 (17 points). The Foals are also winless in five league games.
5. Nagelsmann with top record
Out of all Bundesliga coaches who have been at a club for more than five matches, Julian Nagelsmann has the highest win rate (82 per cent), highest points average (2.53 per game) and best goals average (3.3 per game). Keep it up, boss!
6. Lewandowski and Müller: Milestones in 2021
Two players who stand out in Bayern’s excellent attacking collective are Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller. Lewandowski scored a phenomenal 43 Bundesliga goals in 2021, breaking legend Gerd Müller’s record of 42 in 1972. Only Lionel Messi has ever netted more goals during a calendar year in Europe’s top five leagues (59 in 2012). While the Polish striking star delivers the goals, it’s Müller leading the way with assists. The 32-year-old set up his 13th goal of this term in the win over Wolfsburg last time out - a record for the first half of the season since detailed data collection began in 2004.
A reminder of the many other records that Bayern set in 2021:
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