It’s an atypical game for Hansi Flick. Because his FC Bayern rarely plays on Fridays. But for the coach of the record champions it is an important game that will have special meaning for him.
With the 1: 4 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim on 2. Bundesliga– No one expected the match day at Bayern. After 21 unbeaten games in the German upper house of football, the team went from Hansi Flick self-confident and confident of victory – and fell on his face. But the bankruptcy in Kraichgau was to be forgiven, the series would not last forever. Since then, there has not been another defeat in the Bundesliga.
On Friday, Bayern have the team that defeated the Flick selection before Hoffenheim: Borussia Monchengladbach. The “foals” are one of only three teams against which the current coach of the Munich team lost in the league. In addition to Hoffenheim and Gladbach was Bayer Leverkusen the number three.
The record champions lost 2-1 at Borussia-Park. Since then, the two teams have only met once. In June 2020, Bayern won 2-1 shortly before the end of the season. Another close duel, that Leon Goretzka only decided in the 86th minute for the record champions.
The Bayern defense wobbles
Such a close game can also be expected on this Friday evening. Because Gladbach has confidence again after the victory in Bielefeld. The team at Marco Rose is a good offensive for this. Borussia did not score a goal on the first day of the match. Have since then Alassane Pléa and Co. met in every Bundesliga game.
And Bayern’s defense wobbles. That proved the 5: 2 against Mainz again when Manuel Neuer and the aluminum prevented further goals. FC Bayern only conceded twice in this Bundesliga season, the last time in October 2020 against Eintracht Frankfurt (5-0). Benjamin Pavard is currently in a slight form crisis, even David Alaba has not yet come close to the performances from the second half of the previous season. That creates a few problems for the trainer. He changed Pavard against Mainz during the break and pulled Joshua Kimmich in the back four. Flick doesn’t want to do that more often.
Benjamin Pavard (in red) is currently running after his form. (Source: Poolfoto / imago images)
“I don’t like this residue”
The task for the trainer is great. It will not be easy to maintain the quality of the offensive while stabilizing the defensive. Too often Bayern fell behind in previous games. A point that annoys the coach: “I don’t like this deficit. We need a different attitude right from the start. It’s about being on the pitch straight away. It’s better for everyone when we play to zero again”, said Hansi Flick at the press conference. He also added that he expected “a different attitude, a different dynamic, more intensity, more conviction”.
He did not reveal which players he would bet on. What he revealed was the position of Joshua Kimmich. “Jo will play in the center,” said Flick. With that, Benjamin Pavard will either get another chance or Flick will get creative. It is already rumored in Munich that Niklas Süle could move right into the back four.
Manuel Neuer (center) saved several times against Mainz, in this photo against Leandro Barreiro (left). (Source: Poolfoto / imago images)
Gladbach also registered the uncertainty in the Bayern defense. One possible tactic is that Borussia will attack more on their own left side on Friday evening. Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic therefore warned his players at Sky: “This is a very strong team (Borussia Mönchengladbach, editor’s note), we have to be careful. I wouldn’t like to fall behind, they have good people up front.”
A backlog would make the Flick task even bigger – and possibly cause the second defeat of the season.
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