Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayern Munich

Verdict: Bayern Munich win & Bayern Munich to score over 1.5 goals

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to widen their buffer at the top of the table on Friday night, Bayern Munich will make the trip to Borussia-Park when they face off against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Borussia Monchengladbach

Starting with the hosts, while Borussia Monchengladbach might have managed to shock many as they secured their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League, Die Fohlen have struggled with their consistency. Managing to mark their return from Germany’s festive break last weekend with what was a hard-fought 1-0 win against leading relegation scrappers Arminia Bielefeld, there is no doubt that Marco Rose’s men will be desperate to build off of that scrappy victory. Opening this weekend’s fixtures still sat down in seventh and in an uphill battle to find a route back into the European spots, Gladbch’s victory last weekend was their first Bundesliga win in any of their last five top-flight appearances. Facing a stern test when the defending champions come to town on Friday night, Rose will be also calling on his side to find some stability on home soil. Last seen at Borussia-Park getting hit with a 2-1 defeat against Hoffenheim, the hosts have won just a pair of their last seven Bundesliga showdowns in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Team News

Attacking talisman Marcus Thuram will once again be missing on Friday night as he serves the final three games of his suspension.

Valentino Lazaro will also be unavailable at Borussia-Park due to an injury issue.

Bayern Munich

As for the visitors, while on paper it might show to Bayern Munich managed to land a 5-2 win against a struggling Mainz over the weekend, that result at the Allianz doesn’t quite tell the whole story. Slumping to what was a hugely worrying 2-0 deficit heading in at half-time, Hans-Dieter Flick’s men really had to rally as they dodged what could have been a high-profile banana skin. Still, while the German champions might have struggled to find their top form heading into 2021, Bayern have managed to capitalise on both Leipzig’s and Borussia Dortmund’s recent slip-ups. Making their trip to Borussia-Park on Friday night still managing to hold onto a two-point buffer at the top of the table, the Bavarians have lost just one of their 14 Bundesliga contests this season and have shown their usual clinical edge in the final third. Although Flick’s side might have remarkably failed to record a single top-flight clean sheet since October 24th, they have already racked up a staggering 44 strikes so far this season.

Team News

Bayern Munich have confirmed that they will be without both Joshua Zirkzee and Tanguy Nianzou this week.

After making a cameo appearance against Mainz last week, a returning Leon Goretzka could be handed a start.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last faced off back in June, Bayern Munich picked up a 2-1 victory at the Allianz.
• Bayern Munich have failed to record a single Bundesliga clean sheet in any of their last nine top-flight contests.
• However, the defending champions have bagged themselves 44 strikes in their 14 contests this season.
• Borussia Monchengladbach have managed to win just one of their last five Bundesliga contests.
• Friday’s hosts have also managed to win just a pair of their last seven Bundesliga matchups on home soil.

Conclusion

While Bayern might have really had to show their resolve after coming from 2-0 down at home against Mainz last weekend, Friday’s guests will be desperate to extend their buffer at the top of the table this week. Although Gladbach might have shocked many as they secured their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League, Marco Rose’s men have struggled with their consistency this season. Mustering just a pair of victories at Borussia-Park in their seven home fixtures this season, they should face a stern test against the defending champions. With Bayern landing themselves a 2-1 win when the two sides last faced off back in June, we’re backing a similar outcome on Friday.

Verdict: Bayern Munich win & Bayern Munich to score over 1.5 goals

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Unibet