by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Monchengladbach will try to summon resilience and unity against Bayern Munich on Saturday, a lopsided matchup between a struggling club at the foot of the Bundesliga table and the reigning powerhouse.

After seven winless games, Gladbach remains the only team yet to taste victory this season. The club's long list of issues includes defensive frailty, injuries to forwards Tim Kleindienst and Robin Hack, and growing fears of relegation.

What was once a fierce rivalry in the 1970s and 80s has become a mismatch. Bayern enters in rampant form, while Gladbach is without a permanent coach and still reeling from the recent exits of coach Gerardo Seoane and sporting director Roland Virkus.

Interim coach Eugen Polanski, promoted from the under-23 side, urged his players to show fight. "Take up the tackles, run without limits, and meet the basic demands of football," the 39-year-old said ahead of the 115th meeting between the two clubs.

New sporting director Rouven Schroder has moved into the club hotel and is shadowing the team at meals and training sessions as he prepares for a likely winter transfer overhaul. "I'm still in a supporting role, learning about the atmosphere," he said. "But we need to be ready to act in the break. The team knows what's at stake."

Gladbach has not won in 14 league matches, a new club record, and sits bottom of the standings. Still, fans have continued to rally behind the team, with Polanski insisting the players' attitude gives him hope. "Bayern doesn't do anything out of the ordinary," he said. "They just do everything perfectly." ■