Bayern Munich will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's home loss to Bayer Leverkusen when they take on Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
The German champions dropped to fourth in the Bundesliga table due to their defeat last time out, but Gladbach will enter the match in first spot having collected 28 points from their 13 league matches.
Match preview
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Nine wins, one draw and three defeats – that is how Gladbach have performed in the Bundesliga this season. A total of 28 points from their 13 matches has left them top of the table, four points clear of Bayern ahead of Saturday's contest.
The Foals lost 2-0 at Union Berlin on November 23 but have won their last two in all competitions, triumphing in the Europa League last Thursday before running out 4-2 winners over Freiburg in the league at the weekend.
Marco Rose's side finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season, but their form this term suggests that they could break into the top four. They are only five points clear of fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund, though, and there is still an awful lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season.
Bayern ran out 5-1 winners when these two teams last locked horns back in March, but Gladbach recorded a 3-0 win at the Allianz Arena last season. Bayern have struggled to show their best form in recent months, and the home side will be confident of recording their first home win in this fixture since November 2017.
Gladbach still have the Europa League to think about, though, and they are not yet sure of a spot in the knockout round of the competition ahead of next week's home fixture against Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir.
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Still under the management of interim boss Hans Flick, Bayern suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Leverkusen last weekend. A double from Leon Bailey proved enough for the visitors to triumph despite Thomas Muller levelling the scores in the 34th minute of what was a very entertaining contest.
Bayern have won each of the last seven Bundesliga titles, but it does appear that the club have a serious challenge on their hands during the 2019-20 campaign.
Indeed, the reigning champions are currently fourth in the table on 24 points, four points behind Gladbach. They have already lost three times in the league this term and do look vulnerable in Germany's top flight.
This weekend's contest is huge but at least the club are sure of a spot in the last-16 stage of the Champions League ahead of next week's clash with Tottenham Hotspur. Indeed, Der FCB have won all five of their group matches to ease their way into the knockout round of the competition.
In Robert Lewandowski, meanwhile, the club have a striker in serious form. The Poland international has scored 27 times in 21 appearances this season, including 16 in 13 Bundesliga outings.
Borussia Monchengladbach form: LWWWLW
Bayern Munich form: DWLWWL
Team News
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Gladbach will make a late check on Matthias Ginter after the centre-back missed out against Freiburg due to a muscular problem.
Andreas Poulsen, Torben Musel and Florian Mayer are all still on the treatment table, but the home side have no concerns from the win over Freiburg.
As a result, Breel Embolo is expected to continue at centre-forward having netted a treble last time out, with Marcus Thuram, Patrick Hermann and Laszlo Benes also featuring in the final third.
Alassane Plea is therefore expected to start on the bench despite contributing four goals and four assists in the league this season.
As for Bayern, Lucas Hernandez, Niklas Sule and Jann-Fiete Arp remain unavailable for selection.
Lewandowski will again start at the tip of the attack but there could be changes further back with Kingsley Coman pushing for a spot in the side.
Philippe Coutinho and Thiago could also be recalled having started on the bench against Leverkusen, although Flick is not expected to make big alterations.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup: Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Zakaria, Neuhaus; Thuram, Benes, Herrmann; Embolo
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup: Neuer; Pavard, Martinez, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich; Coman, Goretzka, Thiago, Gnabry; Lewandowski
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 Bayern Munich
Both managers would probably accept a point if it were offered ahead of kickoff, and we are finding it difficult to separate the two teams in this match. Bayern will be looking for a response, but Gladbach are good enough to hold the reigning champions to a draw in front of their own supporters.
Matt Law
