Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Lewandowski scored Bayern's final goal of 2021 as Julian Nagelsmann's side cemented their place at the Bundesliga summit with a 4-0 triumph over Wolfsburg prior to the winter break. It was the defending champions' fifth consecutive league victory and left them with an 11-point lead over second-placed Borussia Dortmund at the halfway stage of the campaign. Bayern will be more determined than ever to add to their tally on Friday given that Gladbach took points off them in a 1-1 draw in the season curtain-raiser in August, before unceremoniously dumping them out of the DFB Cup second round with a 5-0 thrashing in October. Joshua Kimmich is set to return after a six-game absence, but may be forced into action in defence given the number of absences there. Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez are among the lengthy list of first-team players unavailable.

Gladbach's hopes of producing another memorable result against Bayern have been dampened somewhat by their inconsistent form since that Cup win, with just two subsequent victories interspersed among four defeats and two draws. Currently languishing in 14th place in the table and just two points above the relegation zone, the Foals know another victory could kickstart their campaign as they push for a top-six finish. However, they will have to do so without Joe Scally as well as seven-goal top scorer Jonas Hofmann, who is sidelined with a knee injury, while Ramy Bensebaini is absent at the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria.

Watch: Bayern vs. Gladbach - a big start to 2022!

Match stats

Bayern's current tally of 43 points after 17 Matchdays was bettered only four times in their Bundesliga history, most recently in 2015/16 under Pep Guardiola.

Lewandowski's 43 goals in 34 Bundesliga games is a new calendar year high, beating Gerd Müller's 42 goals in 1972.

Thomas Müller has a Bundesliga-leading 13 assists this season. His 24 league assists in 2021 is more than any other player across Europe's top five leagues.

Gladbach have won five and drawn one of their last 10 competitive games with Bayern.

After Hofmann, Florian Neuhaus and Alassane Plea are the Foals' next top scorers with three Bundesliga goals each this season.

Breel Embolo supplied two goals and two assists in Gladbach's 5-0 Cup win over Bayern.

Probable line-ups

Bayern: Ulreich - Pavard, Kimmich, Süle - Sabitzer, Roca - Tillman, Musiala, Müller (c), Gnabry - Lewandowski

Out: Choupo-Moting (Africa Cup of Nations), Coman (not included), Davies (not included), Goretzka (knee), Hernandez (not included), Neuer (not included), Nianzou (not included), Richards (not included), Sarr (Africa Cup of Nations), Sane (not included), Stanisic (thigh), Tolisso (not included), Upamecano (not included)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Gladbach: Sommer - Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Netz - Kramer, Kone - Herrmann, Stindl (c), Thuram - Embolo

Out: Bennetts (not included), Bensebaini (Africa Cup of Nations), Beyer (match fitness), Doucoure (not included), Hofmann (knee), Scally (not included), Zakaria (not included)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Adi Hütter