Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker: Luckster
Seeking an immediate Bundesliga response on Friday night, Borussia Dortmund will welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to Signal Iduna Park.
Borussia Dortmund
Starting with the hosts, while Borussia Dortmund might open this weekend’s fixtures with just their goal difference keeping them in bronze medal position, the German giants are searching for some recent stability. Eventually forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate away at Freiburg last time out, Niko Kovac’s side have registered just a single win from any of their previous four appearances across all competitions. Watching their DFP Pokal adventure come to a disappointing end earlier in the month as they got December underway with a 1-0 loss at home against Bayer Leverkusen, BVB have also won just a trio of their last nine outings. However, pencilled in as a standout contender this weekend, Dortmund have suffered just a single domestic defeat in rural Germany since the start of March.
Borussia Dortmund Team News
Shown a second-half red card away at Freiburg last weekend, summer recruit and former Sunderland star Job Bellingham will miss out through suspension here. Likewise, dealing with a recent muscle issue, Borussia Dortmund are once again sweating over the fitness of Austrian international Marcel Sabitzer.
While Serhou Guirassy might have failed to record a single Bundesliga strike since the end of October, the former Stuttgart striker will lead the line on Friday night. One-time Liverpool star Emre Can could once again be deployed at the heart of Kovac’s defence.
Borussia Monchengladbach
As for the visitors, sneaking a top-half finish among Germany’s elite last season, it was suggested that some in Borussia Monchengladbach’s camp could be dreaming of the chance to mount a shock European charge this time around. However, making an immediate return to losing ways last time out as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at home against Wolfsburg, Eugen Polanski’s men have once again shown some real inconsistencies. Watching their respective DFP Pokal campaign come to an end on December 2nd as they fell to a 2-1 loss against St. Pauli, Friday’s guests should also be concerned by a nightmare record against BVB. Hit with an action-packed 3-2 loss when they last met Dortmund back on April 20th, they have recorded just one-point from any of their previous five Bundesliga battles.
Borussia Monchengladbach Team News
Dealing with what has quickly become a stacked injury list, Borussia Monchengladbach will once again be without the likes of Fabio Chiarodia, Jan Urbich, Tim Kleindienst and Florian Neuhaus here. However, serving a one-match domestic suspension against Wolfsburg last weekend, Joe Scally could be handed a full recall.
Making a permeant switch from Dortmund over the summer, USA international Giovanni Reyna will line up against his former teammates this weekend. Como loanee Yannik Engelhardt will start in the middle of the park and should partner Rocco Reitz.
Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Monchengladbach Key Factors to Consider
- When Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach last met back on April 20th, BVB collected a 3-2 victory on home soil.
- In fact, Friday’s hosts have registered 13 points from their last five Bundesliga meetings against the Foals.
- BVB have suffered just a single domestic defeat in front of their own supporters since the start of March.
- Gladbach have won each of their last three consecutive Bundesliga matchups on the road by an aggregate score of 8-0.
- All of the last six meetings between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach have finished with both teams finding the net.
Conclusion
While Borussia Monchengladbach might have won each of their previous three Bundesliga showdowns on the road by an aggregate score of 8-0, the Foals are rightfully installed as a real underdog contender this weekend. Last seen falling to a 3-1 loss at home against Wolfsburg, Friday’s guests should also be concerned by a nightmare record against BVB. Hit with an action-packed 3-2 loss when they last met Dortmund back on April 20th, they have also registered just one-point from any of their last five Bundesliga battles. In a contest that tends to produce plenty of fireworks, chances could come thick and fast.
Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker: Luckster
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