Prediction: Borussia Monchengladbach vs Wolfsburg

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 5/4

Bookmaker: Unibet

Borussia Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg are both looking to bounce back with a victory after being part of entertaining draws in the Bundesliga last weekend. Gladbach played out a 3-3 draw against Freiburg, while Wolfsburg was held to a 2-2 draw at home by Werder Bremen.

With both teams eager to secure three points this time around, fans can expect an exciting and potentially high-scoring match at the Borussia-Park on Friday night.

Borussia Monchengladbach

Freiburg have consistently performed well in the past two seasons, finishing in the top six each time. Getting a point at Europa-Park Stadion is generally considered a decent outcome for most teams in Germany. However, Gladbach might have felt differently, given their 3-1 lead at halftime.

Lucas Holer kickstarted the hosts with a goal in the first seven minutes, but Theoson Siebatcheu, Alassane Plea, and Julian Weigl responded, securing a substantial lead for the visitors at the halftime whistle. However, after Noah Weisshaupt narrowed the gap, Vincenzo Grifo’s injury-time penalty dashed Gladbach’s hopes and left Gerardo Seoane’s team disheartened.

There’s been noticeable improvement under the former Bayer Leverkusen boss in recent weeks, with consecutive wins against Heidenheim providing a buffer between Gladbach and the relegation zone. Additionally, these victories advanced them to the third round of the DFB-Pokal. Interestingly, they’ll face Wolfsburg in the last-16 stage, hoping to clinch Germany’s domestic cup for the first time since 1995.

In the meantime, Seoane and his squad are eager to triumph over Wolfsburg on Friday. A victory by two or more goals would propel them ahead of their opponents into the top half of the table.

Team News

Having just netted his second goal for Gladbach since joining from Union Berlin in the summer transfer window, Siebatcheu faced an unfortunate setback. He was subbed off after only 43 minutes in the Freiburg match, and a lingering groin injury is set to keep the 27-year-old out of action for a few weeks.

For Friday’s game, Tomas Cvancara is likely to step into the attacking role, given the limited options for Seoane due to various other injuries plaguing the club. The unavailable list includes Ko Itakura, Tobias Sippel, Hannes Wolf, Yvandro Borges Sanches, Tony Jantschke, Jonas Omlin, and Stefan Lainer, all expected to remain sidelined for the hosts.

Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg will be determined to thwart any attempts by their opponents to climb the table, especially given their recent struggle, managing only one point in the last four games. Despite setbacks against Stuttgart, Leverkusen, and Augsburg, as well as frustration against Werder Bremen in their latest match at the Volkswagen Arena, Niko Kovac and his team are eager to turn things around.

Similar to Gladbach, Wolfsburg found themselves trailing 1-0 within the first seven minutes in their previous game. Although goals from Vaclav Cerny and Kevin Paredes seemed to position them for a anticipated victory, Rafael Borre’s equalizer and Maxence Lacroix’s late dismissal forced them to settle for a draw.

While scoring goals hasn’t been an issue for Wolfsburg – only Borussia Dortmund has managed to keep them from scoring in the first 10 games of the season – their defensive record has been less impressive. Since their opening day clean sheet against Heidenheim, they’ve only managed to keep one clean sheet, conceding 10 goals in the process.

Lacroix’s suspension won’t do them any favors in improving this defensive record against Monchengladbach on Friday, especially considering their winless streak in the last seven meetings with their upcoming opponents.

Team News

Wolfsburg are still without their star striker Lukas Nmecha, who underwent knee surgery and is not expected to make a first-team return until the New Year. Patrick Wimmer, Kilian Fischer, and Felix Lange also find themselves on the treatment table alongside the German forward.

The defensive lineup poses additional concerns for Kovac, especially with Lacroix suspended and Sebastiaan Bornauw potentially unavailable due to a head injury sustained in the Werder Bremen match. To address these challenges, the former Bayern Munich boss may contemplate a shift to a back four, with Moritz Jenz potentially partnering Cedric Zeisger in central defense.

Conclusion

The recent history between these teams reveals a pattern of closely contested matches, with four of the last seven ending in draws, and Gladbach securing victories in the remaining three encounters. Last weekend saw both sides settling for a share of the spoils.

Considering this trend, another draw on Friday wouldn’t be unexpected. However, it likely won’t be a dull affair, as both teams have showcased a knack for attacking prowess rather than defensive solidity in recent weeks.

Verdict: Total goals over 3.5

Best odds: 5/4

Bookmaker: Unibet