Matchday 3 in the Bundesliga sees Bayern make the trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday evening (kick-off at 18:30 CEST, coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know about the game in our preview.
We took a look back at some classic encounters with Gladbach:
State of play for Bayern
Two comprehensive wins and only one goal scored separate the champions from the Bundesliga summit. Thomas Tuchel and his team can be pleased with how they’ve started this league campaign. However, they now face an opponent who have caused them all sorts of problems in recent years, with Bayern unable to win any of their last five competitive encounters with Gladbach.
“As soon as a streak goes against us, we don’t believe in streaks,” the boss said at his press conference on Friday with a smile, before explaining what’s needed to end that unwanted run. “We need a good performance, have to build on the things we did well against Werder Bremen and in the second half against Augsburg. Our duels, being active, working hard out of possession and creating chances – we have to stick to them,” Tuchel demanded. Even though you sometimes get fixtures in football where one team struggles against a particular opponent, the state of play is clear for the coach: “We go to Gladbach as favourites and with the demand to win there. That’s absolutely our goal.”
Recap the key statements from Tuchel’s pre-match press conference:
Opponent: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Gladbach’s season has got off to a rocky start. After a routine win over lower-league Bersenbrück in the DFB Cup first round (7-0), Borussia snatched a 4-4 draw with a late equaliser in Augsburg in the opening league game before a 3-0 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Only once before have the Foals conceded more goals in their opening two Bundesliga games, when they shipped eight in 1993/94.
Gladbach have therefore looked to focus on their defensive work ahead of hosting the champions. “We have to be more compact and can’t offer so much space between the lines,” said coach Gerardo Seoane, who took over ahead of the season. The Swiss tactician also spoke in particular about watching out for Harry Kane: “He’s a centre-forward who’s extremely good at finishing. He doesn’t need many chances to score. That doesn’t make defending against him any easier.”
Read up on the facts ahead of the game:
Fitness update
Bayern remain without Manuel Neuer and Raphael Guerreiro. The game also comes “too early” for Jamal Musiala after his hamstring strain, as Tuchel confirmed: “We’re not taking any risks.” However, when it comes to Minjae Kim, who sat out training during the week with a calf issue, the 50-year-old expects “the green light from him and the medics”.
Gladbach come into the match without first-choice goalkeeper Jonas Omlin, who’s injured his shoulder. Manu Kone and Christoph Kramer aren’t yet back in training after their knee injuries, while Stefan Lainer is still sidelined after his cancer diagnosis.
Guerreiro was able to train with the ball again on Thursday for the first time since his muscular injury:
What the coaches say
We know what’s coming. It’s emotional, a special game, a lot of history – and that’s what you’re up against. We have to play to our principles and know that we aren’t alone, are doing this is as a team and that our own game is the focus. I’m confident there. Obviously you always need some luck in games, but it’s in our own hands.
Thomas Tuchel
We have to be brave, defend from the front, so the gaps are smaller. If we manage to squeeze the field, we have the chance to contest more physical challenges than we managed against Leverkusen. We have to improve in that area.
Gerardo Seoane (Borussia Mönchengladbach head coach)
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