Bayern Munich-Borussia Monchengladbach is a match of the 20th day of the Bundesliga and is played on Saturday at 3:30pm: TV, likely lineups, predictions.
From -7 to -2 in the space of a week. Bayern Munich has managed in just seven days to considerably narrow the gap to leading Bayer Leverkusen, which has come back to feel the breath on the reigning multiple champions’ necks. Only 2, now, are the points separating the Bavarians from Xabi Alonso’s team, which slowed down last weekend, drawing at home with Borussia Monchengladbach, the next opponent of Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Bayern bounced back thanks to victories with Union Berlin, beaten 1-0 in recovery, and in the Bavarian derby with Augsburg, folded 3-2 last Saturday. Harry Kane, after being unbelievably dry for a few games, scored his 23rd goal in this Bundesliga against his “cousins,” confirming himself more and more as a relentless scorer and an invaluable asset for Tuchel’s battleship. While waiting to dive back into the Champions League – the first leg of the round of 16 with Lazio is not far away – Bayern Munich will try to put further pressure on Leverkusen, ahead of the upcoming direct clash, scheduled in a week’s time at the BayArena.
Gladbach threat for Tuchel
Showing up to the highly anticipated challenge (at least) with the same gap is the goal of the Bavarians, but they should not underestimate a team like ‘Gladbach.
In the last six league and cup comparisons, in fact, the Fohlen have come out on top on three occasions against Bayern Munich. A taboo broken only last September, when Gerardo Seoane’s men surrendered 2-1 in front of their own public, chastened in the final by a goal from Tel. Borussia Monchengladbach, as mentioned earlier, is back from a 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen but its too inconsistent performance for now does not allow it to fight for Europe: it is only 12th. In the Allianz Arena match, Seoane will have to do without striker Cvancara, who is injured, and Itakura, who is engaged with Japan in the Asian Cup. Many absences instead for Tuchel: Coman, Gnabry, Laimer, Kimmich and Upamecano remain in the infirmary, while Kim is taking part in the Asian Cup with his South Korea.
The prediction
Bayern Munich cannot afford to slow down if they want to stay attached to Bayer Leverkusen but the many absences could make the challenge with the unpredictable Borussia Monchengladbach more complicated. The feeling is that in the end the Bavarians will have the better of things but are unlikely to keep their goal unbroken.
Bayern Munich-Borussia Monchengladbach
likely lineups.
BAYERN MONACO (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boey, Dier, de Ligt, Davies; Goretzka, Guerreiro; Müller, Musiala, Sané; Kane.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (3-5-2): Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Wöber; Honorat, Reitz, Weigl, Koné, Netz; Jordan, Pléa.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
