A midweek of cup action comes from Germany, with eight matches scheduled from the German DFB Cup on Wednesday. Some of the nation’s most famous names are in action, battling for a place in the next round and step closer to lifting the trophy.
The standout match from the round pairs Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich from 19:45 GMT on Wednesday. Armchair fans can follow the play live on television as Bayern Munich aim to secure an important away win.
Both teams entered this competition confident in their ability to go all the way and lift the trophy. They have every right to think of themselves as genuine contenders, too, but we will lose one side at the end of this match.
Will Borussia Monchengladbach make their home advantage count to keep their cup dreams alive, or will Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich gain victory on the road?
This will be the second meeting of these teams at this venue this season after the pair played out a gripping 1-1 draw in Bundesliga in August. It was Monchengladbach that took the lead that day with Plea finding the net inside 10 minutes, but that was cancelled out by Lewandowski just before halftime.
Unlike that day, we’ll have a winner at the conclusion of this match, but it’s anyone’s guess which side will progress at this point. Our team of football writers preview the match, looking for any hints or tips on how the game might play out.
Borussia snuck past Kaiserslautern
Borussia Monchengladbach were sent to Kaiserslautern in the previous round of this competition in September and were pushed hard by their opponents before sneaking through to this stage. A victory for Borussia was expected, and they did get the win, but they were made to work all the way to the final whistle, sneaking through with a 1-0 victory.
The winning goal that day was scored by Stindl inside the opening 11 minutes of the game, and that was enough to see them progress. Borussia had chances to stretch their lead but lacked the composure in the final third to put the game to bed and had to settle for a 1-0.
Despite getting past Kaiserslautern and into the next round of the DFB Cup, Borussia have been poor in the Bundesliga so far, and their season is yet to ignite. They have been performing below expectations so far and can be found down in 12th position in the top tier of German football.
That is a result of failing to win six of their first nine league matches, scoring ten goals but conceding a dozen. Their defence has already leaked too many goals, but it’s the opposite end of the pitch where they are struggling.
Borussia Monchengladbach have scored just ten goals in nine games which is a worse return than most other teams in the division, scoring one more than Eintracht Frankfurt, who can be found one place above the relegation zone.
Borussia enter this match winless in their last two league games, taking one point from the last six available to them. The players will be eager to leave their league woes at the door and enjoy the distraction of cup football.
Bayern Munich scored 12 last time
Bayern Munich visited Bremer SV in the previous round of the DFB German Cup, and despite fielding a weakened team, much different from the 11 players that will start this match, they eased to a stunning 12-0 victory.
That result ranks amongst the biggest wins in Bayern Munich’s history. It shows the club are always pushing for better, taking every challenge seriously and trying to make a statement each time they enter the field of play. This trip to Borussia Monchengladbach will be no different. Choupo-Moting scored four of the 12 goals that day, with Musilia getting a double.
Since recording that emphatic win, Bayern Munich has impressed us further, winning in the German Bundesliga and Champions League.
They make this trip sitting on top of the Bundesliga ladder with a record of seven wins, one draw and a defeat, scoring 33 goals and conceding just eight. Those stats suggest the Munich attack will be licking their lips at the prospect of scoring a barrel load against the fragile Monchengladbach defence.
Bayern Munich will aim to hit the ground running in this cup match and will send out a strong side to help them achieve that. There are likely to be a few changes from the thrilling 4-0 weekend win over Hoffenheim as some players are given the night off and a chance to rest.
Those that do take to the field will be determined to show they have what it takes to cut it at this level and deserve to play regular first-team football for the league champions. The pressure is on to show just what they are made of. A convincing win, a few goals scored, and a clean sheet would help them achieve that.
Borussia v Bayern Munich prediction
If this was a Bundesliga match, then Bayern Munich would be the strong favourites, but it’s a one-off cup game in a competition that throws up surprise results in every round. If Borussia Monchengladbach were to beat Bayern Munich, it would be the biggest shock of the season so far, and the home fans will believe they have half a chance.
Bayern are involved in the battle for the league and the race for the Champions League. The DFB German Cup won’t feature too highly on their list of priorities.
Bayern Munich will be the favourites with most German football pundits, and their form in the league and Europe explains why.
The visitors can’t afford to take this game lightly, though, and if they choose to rest too many players and gamble with their chances of making it through to the next round, they could be made to pay a hefty price.
DFB German Cup odds
The pre-match betting at 22bet on this midweek German Cup game has Borussia Monchengladbach available at odds of 6.65, or members can back Bayern Munich for the win in regulation time at 1.4. The draw is 5.25.
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