Bayern's mission in Gladbach: Ignore records and focus fully on getting three points

A clash of two teams steeped in tradition taking place under new auspices. FC Bayern are away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (live coverage with our text commentary and free web radio on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app from 15.30 CEST). It'll be the 115th Bundesliga clash between the two sides and only the third time they'll have faced each other with one team at the top of the league and the other one at the bottom. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

Check out the best photos from Friday’s training:

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Vincent Kompany is well aware that Bayern are the clear favourites for the Bundesliga clash with bottom side Mönchengladbach. Nevertheless, he wants to ignore that: "When we walk out onto the pitch, we won't have the feeling that it's first vs. last. The fixture is still steeped in tradition," explained the boss and issued a warning about the upcoming opponents: Gladbach will try to "restart the season, especially in these games. That must not happen," demanded the 39-year-old head coach. "We want to maintain a high focus."

The facts on the clash with the Borussians:

Instead of a new start for Gladbach, the Munich men naturally want to extend their current successful run. Bayern have racked up 12 wins from 12 games since the start of the season. With one more, FCB would equal the record set by AC Milan, who in 1992 were the only team in Europe's top five leagues to start a campaign with 13 wins across all competitions. A nice little aside, but one that's not important for Kompany going into Saturday's game. "It's purely about the three points. The stats aren't that important. We have to keep our focus on the game and on the job in hand."

Read the key statements from the pre-match press conference here:

The opposition: Borussia Mönchengladbach

Winless in the Bundesliga since March, 18th in the table - Gladbach desperately need a sense of success on Saturday to end their current negative run. It's clear to everyone involved that that won't happen with consummate ease in the current situation - and that's exactly how coach Eugen Polanski is preparing his team for the clash with Bayern: "I'm asking the team to do exactly the same as always: full commitment, absolute passion and the will to fight back," stressed the 39-year-old. "We have to be ready to go into tackles, play with courage and get into the game by winning little battles."

However, Gladbach are not necessarily lacking in commitment, but rather in finishing power: The Borussians have failed to find the back of the net in three of their four home games to date. Moreover, the side from the Rhine valley may have scored four goals in their clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, but they were ultimately in vain as they lost 6-4. The potential for a turnaround is certainly there, just not against FC Bayern, as Max Eberl explained: "I hope they start picking up points from Sunday and get out of it [the slump]; it's what I wish for them," said the board member for sport, who spent 23 years in various roles at Gladbach.

The lowdown on our upcoming opponents:

Team news

With one eye on the DFB Cup tie at Köln next Wednesday, Kompany confirmed in the pre-match press conference on Friday that Jonas Urbig will replace Manuel Neuer between the posts in Mönchengladbach. The head coach will also assess Serge Gnabry (groin issue) and Josip Stanišić (right knee joint ligament problem) after the final training session to see if they're fit enough to play. Long-term absentees Alphonso Davies (cruciate ligament rupture), Hiroki Ito (metatarsal fracture) and Jamal Musiala (ankle dislocation and fibula fracture) are still not an option.

In addition to the three long-term injured players Tim Kleindient, Robin Hack and Nathan Ngoumou, Gladbach will also be without Fabio Chiarodia (muscular problems). According to head coach Eugen Polanski, however, Franck Honorat and Giovanni Reyna have both recovered and are candidates for the starting XI.

Put your knowledge of the upcoming Bundesliga clash to the test in our Matchday Quiz:

What the coaches say

It’s still too early for Jamal Musiala to play, but there was some good news from Säbener Straße this week: