Bayern Munich enjoyed a famous Bundesliga rivalry with Borussia Monchengladbach during the 1970's.
When Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich travel to fellow title contenders Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday, it will be a remake of those classic 1970's encounters, when both teams battled it out for domestic supremacy.
From 1969 to 1977, the two shared league titles between then for nine consecutive seasons, creating one of the best rivalries in the history of German football. Great players such as Franz Beckenbauer, Berti Vogts, Guenter Netzer and Gerd Mueller played a part in those famous rivalries.
While Bayern maintained the same hunger for success and have added dozens of titles both at home and in Europe over the years, Gladbach on the other hand have never won the league title, since their last and fifth championship win in 1977, and at times have dropped into the second tier.
In 2014, Gladbach are looking way better than they have in years, with Swiss coach Lucien Favre having assembled a squad capable of giving Bayern a run for their money.
Gladbach have the Bundesliga's second best defence, with four goals conceded in eight games, as they sit in second place, four points behind leaders Bayern.
They are also one of only four teams, along with Bayern, Mainz 05 and Hoffenheim, to have remained undefeated so far in 2014. In fact Gladbach have lost none of their 13 games in all competitionsin 2014.
DOMINANT WIN
With fit-again Max Kruse and Raffael in attack, Gladbach look much sharper up front, having netted 12 times, three of those goals coming last week in their dominant win over Hanover 96.
They will also have history on their side, as Gladbach is where Bayern traditionally struggle to win.
Gladbach have lost only three of their last 12 home encounters against Bayern since 2000, and have a combined total of 11 wins out of 46, in all home games against the champions.
Favre's team is also preparing for their Europa League game against Cypriot side Apollon on Thursday.
"I do not want to think about Bayern yet," said the Swiss, who will also have World Cup winner, Christoph Kramer back in their ranks after a stomach virus.
"First comes Apollon, and then Bayern," said Favre.
2013-14 runner-ups, Borussia Dortmund, buoyed by Wednesday's 4-0 win against Galatasaray in the Champions League, will want to make up for lost ground, when they take on Hanover 96 to improve from their current 14th spot.
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