Bayern Munich: Three things to watch for in second round of DFB Pokal

Bayern Munich will look to progress to the Third Round of the DFB-Pokal as they face Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday. The Second Round fixture between the two Bundesliga clubs will be the second meeting of the 2021/22 season for the two sides. On Matchday One of the Bundesliga season, Monchengladbach was able to hold Bayern to a 1-1 draw at Borussia-Park. Here are three things to watch for ahead of the Second Round match.

Bayern look to avoid another early exit

Last season Bayern was met with an early exit from the DFB-Pokal. They fell in penalties to 2.Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel in the Second Round of the competition. As a result, Bayern was unable to defend its title from the 2019/20 campaign. It was the first time since the 2000/01 season they failed to progress past the Second Round of the domestic cup competition.

On Wednesday, Die Roten will look to avoid another Second Round exit from the DFB-Pokal. The last time they were eliminated in the Second Round in back-to-back seasons was during the early 1990s when they were eliminated in the 1991/92 and 1992/93 seasons.

Can Monchengladbach bounce back from their weekend defeat?

Monchengladbach enters this fixture having suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Hertha Berlin last weekend. It certainly had to be another frustrating result for Monchengladbach as they struggle to register consistent results. They managed just one shot on target in the loss despite controlling 57% of the possession. Registering shots on target has been a struggle for Monchengladbach this season as they rank last in the Bundesliga when it comes to the percentage of their total shots that make it on target.

Since their first meeting with Die Roten in August, Monchengladbach has won three of their last eight matches in the German top-flight. They have defeated Borussia Dortmund and Wolfsburg but have also suffered defeats to Bayer Leverkusen, Union Berlin, Augsburg, and most recently Hertha. This has been the opposite of the form Bayern has shown as Die Roten has been the more consistent club since their first meeting.

Bayern’s struggles on the road against Monchengladbach

The last few trips to Borussia-Park have not gone well for Bayern. In their last three away fixtures against Monchengladbach, Bayern has been defeated twice and held to a draw. In their last five matches at Monchengladbach’s home stadium, Die Roten has posted a record of 1-1-3. Based on recent results, Wednesday’s match could be a difficult fixture for the defending Bundesliga champions. They have already been held to a point this season by Monchengladbach and their opponents have certainly shown they can compete with and defeat Die Roten in recent seasons.