Bayern out to extend unbeaten run at Gladbach

23 October 2014 12:31

Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga business on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash at Borussia Moenchengladbach with winger Arjen Robben insisting their Champions League record romp at Roma is already history.

Pep Guardiola's Bayern are four points clear of Gladbach ahead of Sunday's clash at Borussia Park and Lucien Favre's side have their work cut out to prevent Bayern claiming a seventh straight win.

The Bavarian giants romped to the biggest European away win in the club's proud history on Tuesday when they hammered Roma 7-1 in the Italian capital with Robben scoring twice.

"We must also keep our feet on the ground," said Robben.

"It's still early in the season and although this may sound stupid, there are still things we can improve on. Now it's back to the Bundesliga."

Gladbach are unbeaten in their eight league games and are one of only four clubs who remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga, including Bayern, Mainz and Hoffenheim.

"We're looking forward to the game, but everyone knows Bayern are a team with a lot of quality and confidence," said Gladbach's Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

"We're playing at home in front of our fans, so it's going to be an interesting game for us.

"It doesn't matter if it's Bayern or Bremen who is coming, we'll just concentrate on our game."

Gladbach have a decent recent record against Bayern with two wins against the Bavarian giants in their last six meetings.

But Guardiola's Bayern claimed a 2-0 win at Borussia Park on their last meeting in January.

Borussia Dortmund host Hanover 96 on Saturday looking to translate their stunning Champions League form to their woeful Bundesliga campaign.

Dortmund are enduring their worst start to a Bundesliga season for 27 years and are winless in their last five games to leave them 14th in the table.

Borussia shook off their 2-1 defeat at Cologne last Saturday with a stunning 4-0 Champions League win at Galatasaray on Wednesday, but defensive midfielder Sven Bender could miss the Hanover clash with an elbow injury.

CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has insisted coach Jurgen Klopp has a job guarantee as last season's runners-up look to end their three-match losing streak at on Saturday.

"It was nice to get the win in Istanbul, but the main thing is getting something from Hanover on Saturday," insisted Klopp.

Likewise, Hanover have lost their last three matches having failed to score in their last three games.

Schalke's new coach Roberto di Matteo is looking to pick up the third straight win of his reign when the Royal Blues are at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday evening.

Having moved up to ninth with a win over Hertha Berlin last Saturday, di Matteo's side enjoyed a fortuitous 4-3 win at home to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday thanks to a 93rd-minute penalty.

On Friday, Werder Bremen look to get off the bottom of the Bundesliga when they host mid-table Cologne with Robin Dutt's team out to bounce back from their 6-0 drubbing in Munich.

Fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Werder Bremen v Cologne

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Hanover 96, Augsburg v Freiburg, Hoffenheim v Paderborn, Hertha Berlin v Hamburg, Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 04 (1630)

Sunday

VfL Wolfsburg v Mainz 05, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Bayern Munich (1630)

Source: AFP