Bayern Munich will be aiming to ensure that they remain top of the Bundesliga by beating Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

The hosts, meanwhile, must avoid defeat if they are to move back into the top half of the table.

Match preview

Indeed, Gladbach's inconsistencies were laid bare by a 4-1 defeat away to Hertha Berlin last time out, with Daniel Farke's side suffering from a late capitulation at the Olympiastadion.

Nico Elvedi had provided the visitors with an early lead in the first half, before Jessic Ngankam brought the sides level ahead of the break. However, Marton Dardai's 52nd-minute strike left Gladbach chasing the game, with their dominance of possession ultimately proving futile until injury-time efforts from Derry Scherhant and Dodi Lukebakio added gloss to Hertha's victory.

Hertha had lost each of their previous four league games, making the nature of Gladbach's defeat all the more embarrassing. Farke has now lost 40% of his league games in charge since taking over last summer, with that figure likely to increase against the reigning champions on Saturday.

However, Die Fohlen did claim a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena earlier in the season, courtesy of Marcus Thuram's breakaway goal. There is little doubt that the France forward's pace and power can cause Bayern issues in transition, but the odds are stacked against his side in terms of claiming another result against the Bavarians.

Indeed, after drawing each of their three league games following their return to action after the World Cup, Bayern have since won four successive games in all competitions to reassert their authority.

League victories against Wolfsburg and VfL Bochum have ensured that Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund - who have both won all five of their league games since returning from the World Cup - remain one and three points behind them respectively, with Kingsley Coman bagging three goals across those two wins.

The France winger was at it again in midweek, too, with his 53rd-minute strike enough to earn his side a crucial 1-0 win away to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Having also scored the winner against the team from his place of birth in the 2020 final, PSG must be dreading coming up against him once again in three weeks' time.

The Bavarians remain on course for a treble having booked their place in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal with a 4-0 smashing of Mainz 05, so Julian Nagelsmann will be hoping to secure a comfortable win against Gladbach on Saturday before facing potential title rivals Union Berlin eight days later.

Team News

Gladbach appear to be in the enviable position of having no injury or suspension concerns restricting Farke's selection, with Ramy Bensebaini expected to return to the former Norwich City manager's starting XI after missing their defeat to Hertha through illness.

Farke's only other change may be to reintegrate Alassane Plea to his attack in order to provide more cutting edge in transition, with Christoph Kramer or Lars Stindl the most likely candidates to make way should that prove to be the case.

Bayern, meanwhile, will travel without Sadio Mane, Lucas Hernandez, Manuel Neuer and Noussair Mazraoui, who all remain out with long-term issues. However, Mane could return to full team training within the next couple of weeks, having not featured since injuring his knee in November.

Joao Cancelo was subbed at half time against PSG in midweek, but that decision appears to have been a tactical one from Nagelsmann, who perhaps wished to share game time between Alphonso Davies and the man on loan from Manchester City. Both full-backs should start in Monchengladbach, with Benjamin Pavard likely to receive a rest after being sent off in injury-time against the Parisians.

Elsewhere, Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry could return to the visitors' attack after only appearing from the bench last time out, with Coman potentially rested after picking up a knock from a heavy challenge by Presnel Kimpembe.

Yann Sommer will start in goal against his former club for the first time since making the switch from Gladbach to Bayern during the January transfer window, having spent nine years in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Weigl, Kone; Hofmann, Kramer, Plea; Thuram

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Cancelo, Upamecano, De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Müller, Gnabry; Choupo-Moting

We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-3 Bayern Munich

Gladbach have provided Bayern with some stern tests in recent seasons, but they are lacking form and momentum ahead of facing them at Borussia Park on Saturday.

While we expect the likes of Jonas Hofmann and Thuram to cause significant problems in transition and potentially score against their former teammate Sommer, the Bavarians should have enough firepower going the other way to return to Munich with all three points.

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