Borussia Monchengladbach will welcome RB Leipzig as the Bundesliga resumes this Friday night.
Bundesliga football returns under the Friday night lights as Borussia Monchengladbach host RB Leipzig at Borussia-Park, with both sides entering the contest carrying very different forms of momentum. For Gladbach, this fixture represents an opportunity to continue one of the league’s most surprising mid-season revivals, while Leipzig arrive with eyes firmly set on keeping pace in the title race.
Just a month ago, Borussia Monchengladbach were mired in crisis. A limp 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich had left Die Fohlen languishing in the automatic relegation zone, bereft of confidence and direction. Fast forward a few weeks, and the mood around Borussia-Park could not be more different.
Eugen Polanski, initially installed as interim coach following Gerardo Seoane’s departure in September, has orchestrated a dramatic resurgence. His influence has been so immediate and so effective that the club wasted no time making his appointment permanent. Under his guidance, Gladbach have strung together four consecutive victories in all competitions, three of them in the Bundesliga, and have transformed from a struggling outfit into one of the league’s most dynamic attacking sides.
What has stood out most during this revival is Gladbach’s newfound productivity in the final third. The Prussians have scored at least three goals in each of their last four matches, finding the net 13 times in total, more goals than they managed across their opening nine fixtures of the season. Their confidence in possession, tempo in wide areas, and improved link-up play have lifted them clear of early-season danger and injected real belief back into the supporters. Friday’s clash represents a stern test of how sustainable that progress truly is.
On Borussia Monchengladbach’s opposite touchline, RB Leipzig arrive with ambitions far greater than momentum alone. They have positioned themselves once again as the most credible challengers to Bayern Munich’s dominance, and while the Bavarian giants remain the benchmark, Leipzig’s consistency has kept them firmly in the conversation.
Eight wins from their opening eleven league matches is an impressive return, and their campaign has been built on a balance of structure, athleticism, and decisive moments in attack. Their two defeats came under very different circumstances: the season-opening loss to Bayern Munich, and a surprising stumble away to Hoffenheim just before the November international break. That setback threatened to derail their rhythm, but Ole Werner’s men responded with a composed 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen, restoring their focus ahead of this challenging trip to Borussia-Park.
One factor that could work in Leipzig’s favour over the long season is their lack of European commitments. Having missed out on continental qualification last year, they have avoided the heavy midweek schedule that Bayern Munich and other rivals must navigate, a subtle but meaningful advantage that could become more apparent as winter approaches.
Leipzig’s visit to Gladbach comes at a moment when both teams have clear identities: one rebuilding its confidence with expressive attacking football, the other honing its efficiency in pursuit of the Bundesliga summit. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Monchengladbach
Borussia Monchengladbach enter this match-up with RB Leipzig in excellent form, but the squad is far from full strength. Eugen Polanski must once again cope with several absences across the pitch. Fabio Cristian Chiarodia remains unavailable as he continues to recover from the thigh injury that has sidelined him since September. Nathan Ngoumou is still dealing with an Achilles tendon problem, ruling him out of contention, while first-choice goalkeeper Jonas Omlin is also sidelined with a muscle injury.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Philipp Sander, who scored against FC Koln before the international break but subsequently missed the win over Heidenheim due to a muscle issue. He remains a doubt for the RB Leipzig clash, and the coaching staff is expected to make a late assessment. Gladbach have no suspensions, but these injuries will undoubtedly influence their selection and rotations.
Gladbach are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, a structure that has served Eugen Polanski well during the team’s impressive resurgence. Moritz Nicolas will start in goal, stepping in capably for Jonas Omlin and contributing not only shot-stopping but also calm distribution from the back. The defensive trio should feature Joe Scally on the right side, Nico Elvedi as the central defender, and Kevin Diks on the left. This unit provides a blend of athleticism, aerial presence, and composure.
Across the midfield, Jens Castrop will operate as the right wing-back, offering the ability to advance in wide channels while still providing defensive coverage. On the opposite flank, Luca Netz is set to start as the left wing-back, providing width and direct running. In central midfield, Rocco Reitz partners Yannik Engelhardt, forming a combination of energy, ball-winning ability, and forward passing that helps connect Gladbach’s midfield to their attacking line.
Further forward, Franck Honorat and Florian Neuhaus are expected to occupy the two attacking midfield roles. Honorat brings pace, creativity, and delivery from the right half-space, while Neuhaus provides control, timing of runs, and intelligence in buildup play. At the tip of the formation, Haris Tabakovic leads the line as the lone striker. His physical presence, ability to hold up the ball, and sharp finishing make him central to Gladbach’s attacking structure, especially given their recent surge in goalscoring form.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Diks; Castrop, Reitz, Engelhardt, Netz; Honorat, Neuhaus; Tabakovic
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig make the trip to Borussia-Park with several important players carrying injuries that could influence Ole Werner’s team selection. El Chadaille Bitshiabu missed the victory over Werder Bremen with a muscle problem and remains doubtful for the weekend, with the medical staff expected to make a late call on his involvement. Benjamin Henrichs is still recovering from an Achilles tendon injury and is not expected to return until mid-to-late January, ruling him out for the foreseeable future.
Assan Ouedraogo, who was excellent in Leipzig’s recent match against Werder Bremen, unfortunately sustained a hamstring injury, and he is unlikely to feature. Leipzig have no suspensions, but these absences reduce Werner’s rotation options in key areas of the pitch.
RB Leipzig are expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, a structure that allows them to maintain their high pressing, quick transitions, and vertical attacking patterns. Peter Gulacsi will start in goal, providing experience, leadership, and assured handling behind the defensive line.
At right-back, Ridle Baku will offer pace and overlapping runs, while Willi Orban anchors the central defence with his positional intelligence and aerial presence. Castello Lukeba will partner him as the left-sided centre-back, bringing athleticism and strong ball-carrying ability. David Raum will operate at left-back, providing width, accurate crossing, and an attacking outlet down the flank.
In midfield, Nicolas Seiwald will sit deepest as the anchoring presence, dictating the tempo and breaking up play. To his right, Xaver Schlager brings a relentless work rate, pressing intensity, and forward drives, linking defence to attack. On the left of the trio, Christoph Baumgartner will carry the creative burden, drifting into pockets between the lines and supporting the forwards with late runs into the box.
The attacking trio combines pace, directness, and technical flair. Yan Diomande is expected to feature on the right wing, stretching the pitch with his speed and cutting inside to create shooting angles. On the left, Antonio Nusa will provide dynamism, dribbling ability, and unpredictable movement, testing Gladbach’s wing-backs. Leading the line, Conrad Harder will serve as the central striker, using his mobility and instinctive finishing to spearhead Leipzig’s attack and exploit spaces behind the defence.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Schlager, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Diomande, Harder, Nusa
Key Stats
- Borussia Monchengladbach have scored 13 goals in their last four matches, more than they produced in their opening nine Bundesliga fixtures combined. They have hit 3+ goals in each of those four games, their best scoring run in nearly a decade.
- B Leipzig have won eight of their first eleven Bundesliga matches, their strongest start to a league campaign since the 2019/20 season. Only Bayern Munich have collected more points during the same stretch.
- Despite their attacking explosion, Gladbach have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven Bundesliga matches, conceding 14 goals in that period.
- RB Leipzig have lost only one of their last six Bundesliga away matches, scoring at least twice in five of those fixtures. Their only slip-up on the road this season came in a narrow defeat to Hoffenheim.
- Mönchengladbach have beaten RB Leipzig in two of their last three league meetings, including a dominant 3-0 win at Borussia-Park last season. Leipzig, however, have won four of the last six encounters overall.
Player to Watch
Nicolas Seiwald
Nicolas Seiwald may not always command the headlines in an RB Leipzig squad filled with explosive attacking talent, but his influence on Ole Werner’s system is undeniable. As the deepest midfielder in Leipzig’s 4-3-3, Seiwald is the metronome that keeps their high-paced style functioning smoothly. His ability to dictate rhythm, recycle possession under pressure, and anchor transitions makes him one of the most tactically important players on the pitch.
What makes Seiwald so pivotal in this particular fixture is the nature of Leipzig’s challenge at Borussia-Park. Gladbach have rediscovered their attacking spark in dramatic fashion, scoring freely and committing numbers forward in recent weeks. Containing their vertical runs and breaking up their fluid combinations will require a midfielder who reads danger early, and few in the Bundesliga perform that role as intelligently as Seiwald.
Beyond his defensive anticipation, Seiwald’s passing range allows Leipzig to shift from containment to controlled aggression within seconds. Whether it is a sharp vertical pass into Christoph Baumgartner, a switch of play to David Raum, or a quick release under pressure to launch a counter, Seiwald is often the starting point for Leipzig’s most dangerous sequences. His discipline also gives license to Xaver Schlager and Baumgartner to press higher and attack space, knowing that the structure behind them remains intact.
Against a revitalised Borussia Monchengladbach side riding an unexpected wave of confidence, Leipzig will need calm decision-making in midfield, positional clarity, and rapid transitions. Seiwald embodies all three. If Leipzig are to assert themselves and maintain control in a hostile environment, the Austrian’s performance could prove decisive.
Prediction
Borussia Monchengladbach 1-2 RB Leipzig
Friday’s clash at Borussia-Park brings together two teams trending upward, but at very different speeds. Borussia Monchengladbach’s revival under Eugen Polanski has been one of the most striking storylines in the Bundesliga over the past month. Their attacking output has exploded, their confidence has returned, and their fluidity in possession has made them a dangerous opponent for anyone.
The atmosphere at home will only heighten their belief that they can continue their resurgence. Yet, this match also represents a significant elevation in difficulty. While Gladbach have overwhelmed recent opponents, RB Leipzig present a level of structure and athletic quality that will test the limits of Polanski’s emerging system.
Ole Werner’s side remain one of the league’s most complete outfits, able to punish defensive lapses ruthlessly and maintain control even away from home. Their ability to recover from setbacks, exemplified by their reaction to the Hoffenheim loss, speaks to their resilience and their status as Bayern’s closest title challengers.
Gladbach should cause problems with their pace and movement, especially given Leipzig’s recent injuries in midfield and defence. However, Leipzig’s attacking variety and superior balance may prove decisive over 90 minutes.
Nicolas Seiwald’s presence at the base of midfield gives the visitors a stabilising platform, and the pace of players like Antonio Nusa and Yan Diomande can expose the spaces that Gladbach naturally leave when pushing forward. Expect an entertaining match where both teams create chances, but where Leipzig’s efficiency and deeper squad quality ultimately give them the edge.
