BAYERN MUNICH VS BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
Borussia Monchengladbach look to keep their European hopes alive as they travel to the Allianz Arena to face Champions elect Bayern Munich. Monchengladbach has been a tricky tie for the Bavarians in the recent past but the defending champions will know a win will secure them the title.
Bayern’s celebrations were derailed last week after a 2-1 defeat to Mainz. They conceded two first-half goals and struggled much through the game before Robert Lewandowski scored at the stroke of full time.
Bayern have been a shadow of the team they were last season, having crashed out of the Champions League and the German Cup (DFB Pokal). However, a win on Saturday could secure them their 31st league title.
Monchengladbach were brutal in their last league outing, a brace from Breel Embolo fired them to a 5-0 victory over Arminia Bielefeld. They sit four points behind Bayer Leverkusen and are hoping to secure a Europa League spot.
Marco Rose’s sde have been poor on the road and travel to the Allianz Arena having won one from their last eight away matches.
TEAM NEWS
Jerome Boateng is ruled out with a foot injury, while Douglas Costa continues to be on the treatment table nursing a long term injury. According to reports Nicholas Sule is expected to join up with the squad after making progress in rehab.
Working hard on and off the ball 🔥@LucasHernandez @esmuellert_ #packmas pic.twitter.com/wY766I8BwP
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) May 5, 2021
Bayern Munich Probable Lineup: Neur; Pavard Nianzou, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Coman, Lewandowski
For Monchengladbach, Torben Musel and Julio Villalba have been sidelined with injuries while experienced forward Lars Stindl is ruled out due to a torn muscle.
And there it is! 🏆
April's Player of the Month @tobi_sippel received his award! 💚#DieFohlen pic.twitter.com/EInlYObt4k
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) May 5, 2021
Borussia Monchengladbach Probable Lineup: Sommer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Lainer, Zakaria, Neuhaus, Lazaro; Embolo, Wolf, Thuram
GAME CHANGERS
Robert Lewandowski returned from injury in the game against Mainz and scored an injury-time goal. The Polish striker has scored 36 goals in 26 games for Bayern this season and looks certain to be a major threat to the Monchengladbach defence. Cutting from the right onto his left Leroy Sane could prove to be a handful against wing back Lazaro.
Lewandowski is gunning for Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga season and this is a good opportunity for the Polish striker to chase down Der Bomber.
Marcus Thuram, Breel Embolo, and Alassane Plea have all been among the goals for Monchengladbach lately and would definitely be worth watching the trio in action. With a new manager coming in at the summer in Frankfurt’s Adi Hutter, players will be keen to impress for the future. Gladbach’s most potent weapon is their pacy forward line which can cause problems to Bayern’s high-line defence.
PREDICTIONS
Borussia Monchengladbach will have to shake away their poor away form if they are to have any chance against the Bavarians on Saturday. Bayern will be aware a win against Monchengladbach will secure them the title and they will be eager to do it at their home stadium. FootTheBall predicts Bayern Munich 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach.