Borussia Mönchengladbach will host Bayern Munich on Sunday in a 1 vs 2 matchup that many see as the last legitimate chance for any team to keep Bayern from running away with the Bundesliga title. Gladbach, who are undefeated in their last 14 matches in all competitions, are nevertheless heavy underdogs, as you might expect.
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich: Time, TV schedule and match preview
Bayern Munich face what might end up being their last legitimate challenge to the title this season when they travel to Mönchengladbach this Sunday.
The Bavarians have been nothing but unstoppable all season, and they demonstrated their dominance in thrilling fashion by defeating AS Roma 7-1 in Champions League play this week, just days after putting 6 on the board against lowly Werder Bremen. That one goal conceded to Roma was the first they'd given up in 814 competitive minutes, so clearly Pep Guardiola's men have some work to do.
Lucien Favre’s squad has been quite impressive in their own right, and even though he told bundesliga.com earlier this week that the idea his team could legitimately contend for Bayern’s crown was “nonsense,” they should not be disregarded in this match. They’ve only conceded 4 goals through 8 matches themselves, and Favre has effectively coaxed goals from a variety of players, which should give Bayern enough to think about on the defensive side of the pitch.
It’s probably just an academic exercise, however, since FCB has plenty of ways to score, even against a defense as stout as Gladbach’s. The hosts will no doubt be happy with a low-scoring affair, but Bayern is ever capable of an outburst. It’s highly likely that we look back at this weekend as the one when the champs pulled away for good, but this is as good a chance as any that we’ll see an upset.
Borussia Mönchengladbach injuries and suspensions
Out: Filip Daems (back). Probable: Christoph Kramer (stomach bug)
Bayern Munich injuries and suspensions
Out: Bastian Schweinsteiger (knee), Pepe Reina (calf), Tom Starke (ankle), Thiago Alcântara (knee), Javi Martinez (knee), Holger Badstuber (thigh). Probable: David Alaba (leg)
Bayern’s midfielders are no closer to returning, and a new injury to backup keeper Tom Starke, which has already been operated on, will push Leopold Zingerle to the bench. David Alaba left last week’s win over Werder Bremen early with a knock, but played against Roma and should be good to go. Midfielder Christoph Kramer did not play in Gladbach’s Europa League win over Apollon Limassol this week, but has been cleared to return.
Projected lineups
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Yann Sommer, Julian Korb, Martin Stranzl, Tony Jantschke, Álvaro Domínguez, André Hahn, Håvard Nordtveit, Granit Xhaka, Patrick Herrmann, Raffael, Max Kruse
Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer, Rafinha, Jérôme Boateng, Dante, David Alaba, Philipp Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Xherdan Shaqiri, Arjen Robben, Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski
Match Date/Time: Sunday, October 26, 5:30 pm local/12:30 pm EDT
Venue: Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany
TV: Sky Bundesliga 1, Sport1.FM (Germany), GOLTV (USA/Canada), BT Sport 1 (UK)
Online: Sky Go Deutschland (Germany)
See More:
