Bayern Munich vs Borussia Monchengladbach

Allianz Stadium is the venue as Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach go head-to-head in the first Bundesliga fixture of 2022.

Bayern Munich headed into the Christmas break amid a purple patch, having won seven consecutive games in all competitions to close out an eye-catching 2021 on a high. After dispatching Wolfsburg 4-0 in their final Bundesliga match of 2021, the ‘Bavarians’ start the new calendar year nine points clear of closest followers Borussia Dortmund, laying the foundations for a record-extending tenth successive league title. Julian Nagelsmann’s men have been a force to be reckoned with at home this season. Except for a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt in early October, they have won all of their remaining 11 competitive home fixtures at the Allianz Arena, including the last seven in a row. However, the scars of an embarrassing 5-0 DFB-Pokal thrashing in their most recent H2H are still fresh.

Borussia Monchengladbach will have to replicate their outstanding cup performance if they are to stand a chance in Munich, where they’ve lost their last two Bundesliga H2Hs by an aggregate score of 8-1. But based on Gladbach’s showings down the final stretch of 2021, that could be easier said than done. Since putting basement boys Greuther Furth to the sword in mid-November (4-0), ‘Die Fohlen’ have gone winless in their last five league outings (D1, L4), conceding 3+ goals in each reverse in that period. Furthermore, the visitors have only won one of their nine away games this Bundesliga campaign (D2, L6), with only two top-flight sides amassing fewer top-flight points on the road than them (5) in the first half of the season. Indeed, a brace of 4-1 away drubbings, sandwiched by a pair of uneventful 1-1 draws, suggests Gladbach could roll over and admit defeat at the Allianz Arena.