Borussia Monchengladbach are set to host their rivals Borussia Dortmund in a pivotal clash in the Bundesliga, with either side looking to improve their form.
Gerardo Seoane will not be very happy with the way his team performed in the most recent Bundesliga game against SC Freiburg. While struggling to match their opponents for most parts, Borussia Monchengladbach did find a way through with an equaliser in the second half ahead of the visit of Borussia Dortmund this weekend.
However, their complacent defence conceded the lead just a minute later, which was the most infuriating part for their manager. Freiburg eventually headed out as 3-1 winners, which left Gladbach in 10th place on the table, as Seoane will eye drastic improvements if they are to target a big European place come the end of the season.
The team’s overall form has been mixed all season long, and they will continue to rely on their decent enough defence to get through difficult games. Borussia Monchengladbach can still rely on their home form heading into this pivotal clash with rivals Borussia Dortmund, having won their last four outings on home turf.
Borussia Dortmund will come to this key fixture at the back of a tough draw with league leaders Bayern Munich last weekend. Nuri Sahin will have rued the late goal the Bavarians scored through Jamal Musiala, which cancelled out Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’s first-half strike, as they failed to capitalise on the occasions and close the gap on leaders.
BVB were not involved in the DFB Pokal action in midweek as they were knocked out in the previous round by Wolfsburg, meaning Sahin’s men had a whole week to prepare for this clash with Gladbach on Saturday. The manager will want to see a drastic improvement in their away form, having lost their last six in all competitions prior to winning against Dinamo Zagreb in their latest outing in the Champions League.
In fact, BVB have been down to ten men in each of their last two away games in the Bundesliga, as Sahin will hope it does not repeat against Gladbach. However, the manager will want to see a massive improvement in their current form and will certainly aim to climb up the table with a win at the weekend.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Monchengladbach
Gladbach do not have too many issues with player fitness. Still, the manager is certainly sweating on the availability of Luca Netz, as the left back has a muscle issue to deal with. Midfielder Yvandro Borges Sanches is also set to remain on the sidelines at least until January.
Florian Neuhaus will also miss this game as well as a few more days of action. Grant-Leon Ranos is out with a muscle tear, meaning his return may not be anytime soon. Lukas Ullrich could be in line for a start in the role on the left, with Joe Scally preferred in the right-back slot.
Ko Itakura and Marvin Friedrich in the central defensive positions. Julian Weigl and Rocco Reitz are the likely choices in central defence as the Gladbach boss continues to deploy his version of the 4-4-2. Franck Hanorat and Kevin Stoger will provide the width, while Alassane Plea and Tim Kleindienst will form a two-prone attacking unit up front.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Nicolas; Scally, Itakura, Friedrich, Ullrich; Honorat, Reitz, Weigl, Stoger; Plea, Kleindienst
Borussia Dortmund
Much like Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund do not have many problems with player availability, as only Karim Adeyemi is out of the contest. Waldemar Anton does have a problem with his abductor, which could potentially see him miss out on this clash.
Nuri Sahin could persist with his back four choices including the likes of Julian Ryerson, Niklas Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck and Ramy Bensebaini. Marcel Sabitzer and the in-demand Felix Nmecha are in line for a midfield pairing for Dortmund, as Emre Can be stationed on the bench for this one, especially as Dortmund have a key Champions League clash in midweek.
Maximilian Beier has impressed enough to warrant a start in this one, but not centrally, as the young attacker could get the nod on the right wing. Meanwhile, Serhou Guirassy will continue to lead the line for Sahin’s side, with Julian Brandt and Bynoe-Gittens completing the attacking setup for Dortmund.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Nmecha; Beier, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Guirassy
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have lost six of their last seven away games in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have seen a player sent off in each of their last two Bundesliga away games.
- Borussia Dortmund have scored at least two goals in nine of their last 11 matches against Gladbach in all competitions.
- Gladbach have won their last 4 home games in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Serhou Guirassy
The striker has been a sensational buy for Dortmund in the summer, as he has already scored ten goals in all competitions. Of those, smd have come in the Bundesliga, as Guirassy will aim to improve his tally ahead of the weekend.
Nuri Sahin needs all his attacking players fit and firing in a crunch period ahead, as he looks to build steam to mount a climb to the top of the table. Dortmund will have to be ruthless in their approach, and for that he might have to rely heavily on the talent and goalscoring prowess of Guirassy, particularly at the weekend.
Prediction
Borussia Monchengladbach 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
In terms of form, both teams are close to each other, but Dortmund do edge out Gladbach in terms of overall quality, which leads to the prediction towards a win for Sahin’s men. The home side will have an advantage, but that may not be something Dortmund will care about ahead of Saturday.
Sahin’s side has the players to make a difference, and while he might mix and match his lineup a bit, given the task at hand in midweek, Dortmund still can edge past Gladbach and take three points. The hosts could score at some point, but they may not have enough to keep a tight lid at the back.
