Bayern Tackle Gladbach In Season Opener

[Folami David]

Bayern Munich are under pressure to improve on perfection as they open their Bundesliga defence against former German heavyweights Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.
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While 'Gladbach haven't won the Bundesliga since its 1970s heyday, Bayern are still basking in the glory of their unprecedented treble-winning season and have strengthened their squad further under new coach Pep Guardiola.
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"Anyone who thinks that Bayern is satisfied after the treble, that we're a little more comfortable now, is sorely mistaken," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.
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The additions of Mario Goetze from domestic rivals Borussia Dortmund for €37 million and Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona for €25 million are designed to help Guardiola create an era of dominance to eclipse that of his former side, Barcelona.
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Already last season, Jupp Heynckes led Bayern to a 7-0 aggregate win over Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals. But Guardiola was hired on the basis on his 14 titles in four years at the Spanish club, and will be expected to build on his predecessor's achievements.
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"You can see his handiwork already, how the forward comes back, or lining up with a 'false-9.' It's typical Barcelona," Moenchengladbach coach Lucien Favre said on Thursday.
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Heynckes left the 42-year-old Guardiola a formidable task in the Bundesliga, where last season Bayern claimed a record 91 points and wrapped up the quickest title in 50 years of the league - achieving the most wins among a host of other records.
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Guardiola will be without the injured Luiz Gustavo for his first Bundesliga game, while Thiago was a doubt with fever.
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"'Gladbach are one of the best teams in the Bundesliga. It will be very, very, very dangerous," Guardiola said on Thursday.
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Bayern opened the season against Moenchengladbach two years ago and lost 1-0 following a defensive mix-up.
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Favre knows such favours won't come easily again.
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"It will be difficult to annoy Bayern," he said.
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Almost a third of fans responding to a survey by Kicker magazine said they believed the Bavarian side will win the 51st Bundesliga title. Kicker said that only a quarter of the 27 700 respondents favoured Dortmund, who as runner-up finished a record 25 points behind Bayern last season.