Borussia Dortmund will continue their bid to win the Bundesliga title this weekend when they go up against Borussia Monchengladbach.
There are just three games left to play this season, and the Bundesliga title race is set to go down to the wire, with just one point separating Borussia Dortmund, who face Borussia Monchengladbach next, and Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
Dortmund marched on towards their goal of overtaking the Bavarians by sealing an emphatic 6-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg to keep the gap between themselves and the league leaders at one point last weekend.
The hosts will know that if they want to pip Bayern to the Bundesliga title, they must get nine points from their remaining three matches. And anything but all three points could spell curtains for their title bid. Edin Terzic’s side have an excellent record at home this season and will look to cash in on it in the battle of the Borussias.
Borussia Monchengladbach finished tenth last season. And a similar outcome is expected this year. They currently sit in 10th place with 39 points after 31 games. With only three rounds remaining, they are unlikely to move up or down the league standings drastically.
Gladbach have garnered a respectable nine home wins. But just a solitary win on the road showcases all of their issues. They are having huge problems offensively on the road this season, having scored 31 at home and only 15 on the road.
Gladbach came out on top in the reverse fixture and could cause problems for the BVB defence on Saturday; however, a similar outcome is not likely here, with Die Fohlen set to miss some of their key attacking players.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Back at it tomorrow 👏 pic.twitter.com/DmSSWAGTFt
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 12, 2023
Borussia Dortmund will have to make do without the services of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at the weekend, with the talented winger set to miss the remainder of the season owing to a shoulder injury. On the flip side, Raphael Guerreiro and Nico Schlotterbeck could be in line to feature after fully recovering from their respective injuries.
With the title race still well and truly alive, it will be interesting to see if Terzic makes any changes to the team that handed Wolfsburg a 6-0 thumping last weekend.
Gregor Kobel will line up between the sticks for Dortmund, who will be starting in Eden Terzic’s preferred 4-3-2-1 formation. While Dortmund dominated against Wolfsburg, the Swiss shot-stopper was called on to make some crucial saves to keep his clean sheet intact, and he will look to keep his fine run of form going in the final weeks of the season.
Mats Hummels was excellent last weekend and deserves to keep his place in the starting XI against Gladbach. Niklas Sule did not put a foot wrong either. But Nico Schlotterbeck will also be pushing for a return to the side ahead of the crucial run-in.
Terzic has another selection dilemma on his hands in the full-back positions. Raphael Guerreiro has more assists than any other player in the Bundesliga this season and should return to the starting XI this weekend.
Julian Ryerson and Marius Wolf both impressed against Wolfsburg. But the latter could be dropped to accommodate Guerreiro on Saturday. Dortmund’s midfield trio is likely to remain unchanged, with Emre Can set to start as the holding midfielder in the middle of the park.
Jude Bellingham will play as the number eight, and will perhaps look to end his Dortmund career on a positive note amid Real Madrid rumours. Julian Brandt also regained his mojo against Wolfsburg, and will have a similar role to play against Gladbach.
Alongside Karim Adeyemi, Donyell Malen has finally seemed to make his home out wide on the wings for Dortmund. Malen, as we know, has always been quite an energetic player, but with little end product. However, he has been in scintillating goal-scoring form lately. Up top, Sebastien Haller is set to lead the Borussia Dortmund attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-2-1): Kobel: Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro: Bellingham, Can, Brandt: Malen, Adeyemi: Haller
Borussia Monchengladbach
Alassane Plea remains suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card last weekend, while Ko Itakura is back available after his suspension. Top scorer Marcus Thuram is struggling with a muscle injury.
Nico Elvedi and Manu Kone are both minor injury doubts ahead of the game. But manager Daniel Farke expects them to recover in time for the game. Meanwhile, Thuram is struggling with a muscle issue and is unlikely to make the trip to Dortmund. There is still hope the in-demand French international could be available before the Bayern Leverkusen game.
The former Norwich City boss could continue to deploy an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation here. First-choice goalkeeper Jonas Omlin was earlier reported to miss the game with a cold but has recovered in time and could start the game here.
🎙️ Farke: "@kne_manu is a minor doubt. He picked up a knock to his knee, so he sat out today's session. I expect that he'll be available on Saturday though."#BVBBMG pic.twitter.com/2qpIh3bfOZ
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) May 11, 2023
Marvin Friedrich will be partnered by the ever-present figure of Elvedi, if fit, at the heart of the four-man backline, with Stefan Lainer and Ramy Bensebaini acting as the two full-backs protecting their respective flanks.
Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl will undoubtedly be keen to prove his former club wrong, with Manu Kone likely to join Weigl in Gladbach’s engine room. Chance creation machine Jonas Hofmann will likely have a key role to play for the Foals in the number ten role here.
In Plea and Thuram’s absence, veteran attacking midfielder Lars Stindl will lead the line in a striker role for the visitors, having chalked up six goals and as many assists this season, with Florian Neuhaus and Nathan Ngoumou expected to operate in wide areas.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Omlin; Lainer, Friedrich, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Weigl, Kone; Neuhaus, Hofmann, Ngoumou; Stindl
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have already scored 48 league goals in 2023, the best record in Europe’s top five leagues ahead of Manchester City (45).
- Borussia Dortmund have won their last nine home matches against Borussia Monchengladbach in all competitions.
- Dortmund have won their last 10 home league games, scoring 41 times in the process.
- Borussia Monchengladbach won just once in 15 road games in the Bundesliga (D6 L8).
- Borussia Monchengladbach failed to score in three of the previous five road games.
Player to Watch
Donyell Malen
While the plaudits will certainly go to both Karim Adeyemi and Jude Bellingham for their parts in the huge victory against Wolfsburg, one player in particular has also done everything he can to remain a consistent goal threat for Die Schwarzgelben; a certain Dutchman by the name of Donyell Malen.
Malen was a candidate for a possible sale in the summer unless the player could prove his worth. Malen, to his credit, has absolutely flipped the tables when it comes to consistency.
In fact, he has been one of the club’s most consistent and potent goal threats in recent months, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in his last seven Bundesliga games, bringing his season tally to eight goals and four assists in 23 league games.
Moreover, Malen’s current form suggests that while this season may be coming to an end, he has the potential to improve on these numbers drastically next season. He has been in consistent vein of form recently and will look to continue by playing a pivotal role in this game.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Borussia Dortmund have kept in touch with the reigning champions through some blistering form since the turn of the year. They showcased their title credentials again last weekend when they put six goals without reply past a hapless Wolfsburg at Signal Iduna Park.
Dortmund have been electric at home this season and have the best home record in the Bundesliga, whereas Gladbach have one of the worst away records. Gladbach could be the latest victim put in the crosshairs on Saturday. Dortmund’s incision in the final third could allow them to create plenty of chances again and put the visitors to the sword in this game.
