New year, same goals as Bayern face first test of 2025 away at Borussia Mönchengladbach

Bayern play their first competitive fixture of the new year as they visit Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday (kick-off at 6.30pm CET, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

Check out the best photos from final training on Friday:

Latest news from Bayern

Bayern’s first meaningful game of the new year comes 22 days after they ended 2024 on a high with a 5-1 win at home to RB Leipzig. “When you look back at the first half of the season, you have to say we were dominant. You can see that on the pitch and in the numbers,” said head coach Vincent Kompany in his review of the campaign so far at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “The balance is important, that we continue doing the things we’ve done well. We’ve scored a lot of goals, not conceded many. But we’re not perfect, meaning we’ve also lost games. We’ve shown the right character in those tough moments to put in good performances again,” the Belgian added.

Bayern used the short winter break to recharge their batteries and now go into the second half of the season feeling refreshed. The Munich men currently top the Bundesliga table with 36 points from 15 games. “Now the second part begins where titles are won. I want to see a team that wants to keep improving. That’s a question of mentality. It needs to be in the hearts and minds of all players. We’re focusing on what’s important, which is winning the next game,” Kompany stated. The coach is also positive given what he’s seen in the first training sessions of the new year and Monday’s friendly against Red Bull Salzburg, which ended in a 6-0 win. “It was full throttle from the first session and was about not taking a step backwards. That was the most important thing for us. We also showed against Salzburg that we’re taking that mentality straight into the new year,” the 38-year-old concluded.

Read more from the pre-match press conference with Kompany and Max Eberl:

Opponent: Borussia Mönchengladbach

The new year hasn’t started as smoothly for Gladbach, with heavy snow meaning some training sessions had to be rescheduled. However, Saturday’s game is not under threat, although fans should allow more time on their journey to Borussia-Park, according to the hosts. The Foals’ performances have also been just as varied as the weather of late. Ending 2024 with back-to-back wins was a rare run of good form, given they hadn’t achieved two successive victories in the Bundesliga for almost three years, going back to March 2022.

Nevertheless, Gladbach are very much in the running for European qualification, beginning the year in eighth place. Gerardo Seoane’s side have managed seven wins this campaign, which is already as many as they recorded in the whole of 2023/24, while 24 points from 15 games is their best haul for five years. The gap to fifth place and Europa League qualification is currently only one point coming into the weekend. “Gladbach are a very good team, have a good mix of players who can play and who win duels and defend,” said Kompany in his analysis of the opposition. “They’re a club with a clear football identity,” he summarised.

A look back on some special away games in Gladbach:

Team news

Dayot Upamecano sits this game out due to suspension for five yellow cards, while Jamal Musiala (ill) and Daniel Peretz (kidney) also miss out. However, Manuel Neuer is set to return in goal after recovering from his broken rib. João Palhinha (muscular), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal) Sacha Boey (ankle) and Josip Stanišić (knee) are also still sidelined.

Gladbach are without forward Nathan Ngoumou with an adductor problem. “Two or three players have also had flu” and are a doubt, according to Seoane, while Franck Honorat will be assessed following a knock in training.

Read up on the facts ahead of the game:

What the coaches say