Mane scored his first Bundesliga brace as Bayern thrashed Bochum 7-0 last weekend, the Senegal star adding to his strikes against RB Leipzig in the Supercup and Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 1. He also had a couple of goals ruled out in the 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, as well as another in Bochum. It all makes for an ominous start to the campaign by the record champions, who’ve scored 21 and conceded just four times across their first four competitive matches.
The return of left-back Alphonso Davies and in-form teenager Jamal Musiala only strengthens Bayern’s chances of extending their 100 percent winning start. Serge Gnabry, who was only fit enough for a second-half cameo against Bochum, is also available again. Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane – despite strong showings of their own – will likely make way. Matthijs de Ligt – among the scorers on his first Bundesliga start – could be preferred to Dayot Upamecano in central defense.
Gladbach, like Bayern, has started the 2022/23 season undefeated. The Foals smashed minnows Oberachern 9-1 in the DFB Cup first round, before overcoming Hoffenheim 3-2, drawing 2-2 with promoted Schalke, and most recently edging Hertha Berlin 1-0. Jonas Hofmann, Alassane Plea, and Marcus Thuram have all scored early in the season, so head coach Daniel Farke will not feel pressed to bring back Lars Stindl. The Gladbach captain was an unused substitute last time out after missing the opening two league games of the season due to a hamstring injury. Farke, on the other hand, may be obliged to make one change in Munich. Should Ramy Bensebaini not recover from sickness, Luca Netz is on standby at left-back.
Farke may be obliged to make one change in Munich. If Ramy Bensebaini does not recover from illness in time, Luca Netz is on standby at left-back. With a win, Borussia might dethrone Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga rankings, depending on other results.
Match stats
- In Mane and Musiala, Bayern boasts the league’s leading scorers so far this season (three apiece). Mainz’s Karim Oniswo also has three.
- Bayern are enjoying their best ever start to a league campaign with three wins, 15 goals scored and just one conceded.
- Gnabry is two goals shy of reaching a Bundesliga half-century.
- No other team has come anywhere close to winning as many points against Bayern as Gladbach over the last 11 years in the Bundesliga: 31 from a possible 66 (nine wins, four draws, nine defeats)
- Gladbach right-back Stefan Lainer turns 30 on the day of the game.
- No other player in the league has had more shots at goal after three matches than Thuram (11).
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Probable teams
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, de Ligt, Hernandez, Davies – Kimmich, Sabitzer – Gnabry, Müller, Musiala – Mane
Out: Choupo-Moting (groin), Goretzka (knee)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Julian NagelsmannGladbach: Sommer (c) – Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz – Kone, Kramer, Neuhaus – Hofmann, Thuram, Plea
Out: –
Doubtful: Bensebaini (flu), Lainer (thigh), Müsel (knee)
Coach: Daniel Farke
