Verdict: Harry Kane to score
Best odds: 1/2
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Borussia Monchengladbach will have their sights set on securing their inaugural Bundesliga victory of the season as they welcome Bayern Munich to the Borussia-Park on Saturday. On the other hand, the visitors have the opportunity to head into the international break with a flawless record, having emerged victorious in their initial two matches.
Borussia Monchengladbach
With the departure of their former head coach Daniel Farke to Leeds United over the summer, Borussia Monchengladbach is embarking on a new chapter under their newly appointed manager Gerardo Seoane. Seoane was let go by Bayer Leverkusen in October of the previous year.
Despite his struggles at Leverkusen, the 44-year-old arrived in Germany with a solid reputation, having clinched three consecutive titles with Young Boys in his native Switzerland. He then guided Leverkusen to their highest finish in six years, securing a third-place spot in his debut season with the club.
However, Seoane’s start with Gladbach was rocky, as they suffered a 3-0 home defeat to his former club last week. A brace from Victor Boniface along with a strike from Jonathan Tah just before half-time provided all three points to Xabi Alonso’s side in a dominant performance.
After a thrilling 4-4 draw away to Augsburg in the opening match of the season, Seoane will be eager to see his team improve defensively. However, they face a tough task against the reigning champions Bayern Munich on Saturday evening. It’s worth noting that since the 2011/12 season, no team has collected more points (35) against Bayern Munich than Borussia Monchengladbach, and they are currently unbeaten in their last five matches against the Bundesliga champions.
Team News
The home side are currently dealing with a significant number of players sidelined due to injuries, which is makes it challenging for Seoane to settle into his new role. A number of key players are expected to be unavailable for the important clash on Saturday.
Luca Netz, Nico Elvedi, Hannes Wolf, Christoph Kramer, Fabio Chiarodia, and Manu Kone are all likely to miss the match, with a potential return after the international break. Also, full-back Stefan Lainer’s comeback date remains uncertain as he continues to battle lymph node cancer, a condition diagnosed last month.
While Maximilian Wober and Joe Scally are both struggling with colds, they may still be included in the lineup due to limited options. Given the shortage of available players, Seoane is unlikely to make any changes to the team that suffered a defeat against his former club Leverkusen in the previous weekend’s match.
Bayern Munich
Borussia Monchengladbach have truly established themselves as a team Bayern really don’t look forward to playing against. This history of strong performances against the Bavarians adds an element of unease for the reigning champions as they prepare to face Gladbach this weekend.
Nonetheless, Thomas Tuchel’s squad has showcased excellent form in their opening matches. They began with a convincing 4-0 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga’s season opener, followed by a 3-1 triumph against Augsburg at the Allianz Arena.
The addition of England striker Harry Kane, who was acquired for £100 million from Tottenham Hotspur, has already proven beneficial. Kane has scored three league goals so far and effectively stepped into the shoes of Robert Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona the previous summer. Kane’s presence provides assurance that Bayern might not have to endure another closely contested title race, like the one they had with Borussia Dortmund last season.
However, Tuchel remains cautious and is not taking anything for granted, particularly if he is unable to secure a high-quality holding midfielder, a position he has been seeking to strengthen since the transfer window opened. Regardless, Bayern boast an abundance of star power that could propel them to their 12th consecutive Bundesliga title. Ending their recent string of unfavorable outcomes against Borussia Monchengladbach at Borussia-Park on Saturday could potentially bring them one step closer to that goal.
Team News
As for the visitors, there are notable absences due to muscle injuries. Jamal Musiala, Bouna Sarr, and Raphael Guerreiro will be unavailable for the upcoming match. Guerreiro, who arrived on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund last month, has resumed training with a football and is aiming to make his debut against Leverkusen after the international break.
However, both Gabriel Marusic and Manuel Neuer are dealing with more severe injuries. Marusic is recovering from an ACL rupture, while Neuer is managing his return after suffering a broken leg. Their injuries are expected to keep them out of contention for an extended period.
Given their recent victory against Augsburg, Thomas Tuchel may see little reason to make significant changes to the winning lineup. This suggests that players like Thomas Muller, Konrad Laimer, and Matthijs de Ligt might find themselves utilized as substitutes during the match.
Conclusion
Gladbach have experienced a decline in their performance over the last two seasons, finishing outside the top half of the table on both occasions. The current injury situation only adds to their challenges.
Considering these factors, as well as the visitors’ form and quality, it is likely that their unbeaten record against Bayern comes to an end on Saturday. Kane will surely be very motivated to continue his goalscoring run.
Verdict: Harry Kane to score
Best odds: 1/2
Bookmaker: ZetBet
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
