On Saturday (18:30 CET), FC Bayern begin the competitive year 2025 with a true Bundesliga classic. The record champions travel to face Borussia Mönchengladbach at Borussia Park, and ahead of the Matchday 16 meeting, fcbayern.com takes a look back at spectacular Bundesliga clashes between Bayern and Gladbach.
02/10/65: The birth of a classic
The first meeting saw a face-off between the two legendary strikers Gerd Müller and Jupp Heynckes, among others.
Following promotion to the Bundesliga, FC Bayern were away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 7 on 2 October 1965. In the legendary Bökelberg stadium, overflowing with spectators, famous names on both sides took to the pitch. Berti Vogts, Günter Netzer and Jupp Heynckes for Gladbach - Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller for FCB. After Borussia took the lead through Netzer in the 33rd minute, the men from Munich turned the game around and won 2-1 with goals from Rainer Ohlhauser (43rd) and Müller (78th).
18/05/74: A bearable defeat
Before the match in Gladbach, Bayern proudly showed off the European Cup they had won the previous evening.
On Matchday 34 of the 1973/74 season, FCB suffered their biggest-ever Bundesliga defeat against Gladbach to date. However, the Reds were able to cope well with the 5-0 loss at the Böckelberg. The day before, Bayern had won the European Cup for the first time in a replay against Atlético Madrid and, fittingly, celebrated long into the night. In addition, the Bavarians had already been crowned German champions a week earlier.
24/03/79: A runaway win
Coach Pál Csernai and Paul Breitner celebrated the 7-1 away win at Gladbach.
FCB celebrated their biggest-ever win at Gladbach in March 1979. On Matchday 24, the record champions thrashed the Foals 7-1 at the Bökelberg. The goals for the Reds came from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (3), Norbert Janzon (2), Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck and Kurt Niedermayer. At the end of the season, however, the Bavarians would only manage fourth-place finish.
26/04/86: A resounding victory in the championship thriller
Following the 6-0 win against Gladbach, there were boisterous celebrations in the dressing room with the Meisterschale.
In one of the most exciting championship deciders to date, Bayern won 6-0 against Mönchengladbach on Matchday 34 of the 1985/86 season, clinching the title ahead of Werder Bremen, who had gone into the final matchday with a two-point lead. But following the head to head with FCB four days earlier (0-0), with Michael Kutzop's legendary missed penalty, Werder lost 2-1 at Stuttgart. The win meant Bayern drew level on points with Bremen but had the better goal difference.
18/05/13: Stunning comeback
FCB celebrated a 4-3 win at Gladbach after an outstanding comeback.
What a rollercoaster ride! On Matchday 34 of the 2012/13 season, Bayern travelled to Mönchengladbach as newly-crowned champions. After a frenetic first ten minutes, Gladbach were already 3-1 up. But the men from Munich refused to give up and managed to turn what was an incredible game around. In the end, FCB ran out 4-3 winners with goals from Franck Ribéry (2), Javi Martínez and Arjen Robben.
08/05/21: Gala performance after clinching the championship
FCB had already been confirmed champions before the match and put on a real gala performance against Gladbach, including a stunning strike from Robert Lewandowski.
On 8 May 2021, Bayern were already able to celebrate before Saturday night's standout fixture against Gladbach had kicked off. RB Leipzig's defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the afternoon meant that the men from Munich were already confirmed as champions before a ball had even been kicked. What followed was a true demonstration of power by the Bavarians. A hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski and goals from Thomas Müller, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané, wrapped up a comprehensive 6-0 win for FCB.
02/09/23: Tel ends negative run
Mathys Tel celebrates his late winner at Gladbach. | © Imago
This run had to be ended – and it was in impressive fashion on Matchday 3 of the 2023/24 season. After five competitive meetings without a win against the Foals, substitute Mathys Tel scored a late winner in the 87th minute to clinch a 2-1 away victory for Bayern. Sané had earlier cancelled out Ko Itakura's opener for Gladbach.
Here's how Bayern's dress rehearsal for Gladbach in Salzburg went:
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