Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich will be eyeing their eighth straight win in the Bundesliga when they hit the road to face Borussia Monchengladbach, who are struggling to get things going.
The home team have had a disastrous start to the new campaign as they are yet to win a game. They are bottom of the points table with just three points in their seven outings. Monchengladbach are the only team in the German top flight that has yet to win a game this season.
They are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Union Berlin, and given their recent form, going up against Bayern certainly won’t be easy for them.
Meanwhile, the visitors are sitting at the top of the table with a perfect record. Seven wins in as many outings, and they have already established a five-point lead at the top.
After beating rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the league, Bayern smashed Club Brugge 4-0 in the Champions League, and now they will be looking to secure yet another win against Monchengladbach. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
The home team will be without the services of Robin Hack, Nathan N’Goumou, and Tim Kleindienst. Apart from the trio, everyone else is expected to be available for selection.
Borussia Monchengladbach will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Moritz Nicolas will be in goal. Joe Scally and Luca Netz will feature as the full-backs, while Nico Elvedi will partner with Kevin Diks in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Yannik Engelhardt will start alongside Philipp Sander and Rocco Reitz. The trio will look to ensure Bayern midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
Franck Honorat and Jens Castrop will feature on the flanks in the final third, while Haris Tabakovic will be leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Diks, Netz; Reitz, Engelhardt, Sander; Honorat, Tabakovic, Castrop
The German giants remain without the services of Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala. Since they do not have any fresh injury concerns, it could be pretty much the same XI that started against Dortmund.
Bayern will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Manuel Neuer will continue in goal. Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah will pair up in central defence, and they will have the support of Sacha Boey and Konrad Laimer, who will take charge as the wing-backs.
In the centre of the park, Joshua Kimmich will form the double pivot alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic. The duo will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game.
Michael Olise and Luis Diaz should continue on the flanks, while Harry Kane could once again be deployed as a number ten behind Nicolas Jackson, who should spearhead the attack against Monchengladbach.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Kane, Diaz; Jackson
On loan from Chelsea, the Senegalese international has certainly made the most out of the limited opportunities he has had at Bayern Munich. While he is yet to score in the Bundesliga, he has three goal contributions in as many Champions League outings.
The 24-year-old has certainly done an impressive job in the number nine role, and with Harry Kane taking up the attacking midfield role, Jackson should continue to feature from the start. He will be eager to get on the scoresheet against Monchengladbach, having failed to find the back of the net in the league so far.
Borussia Monchengladbach’s struggles show no signs of slowing down, and facing a Bayern Munich side in ruthless form could make things worse. The hosts have failed to win a single game this season and continue to look shaky at both ends of the pitch.
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern, on the other hand, are flying high with a perfect record in the league and will be eager to extend their winning run to eight games. With the likes of Kane, Diaz and Olise in top form, the Bavarians are expected to dominate proceedings from the start and should have little trouble picking up all three points. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 4-0 win for the league leaders.
