Bundesliga Clash: Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayer Leverkusen

On Saturday night, the Bundesliga will feature an exciting Rhine Derby between regional rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen. Both teams are navigating a challenging season, but a victory could uplift their league standings significantly.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

In their latest five Bundesliga encounters, Gladbach managed only one victory, along with two draws and two defeats. While this record is not ideal, Eugen Polanski’s squad finds itself in a relatively stable 12th position in the league table. They have improved from their rocky start, but the team recognizes that a few more wins in upcoming matches are crucial to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight as the competition tightens around them.

The five teams positioned below Gladbach are all within a mere five points, a statistic that fans and management are monitoring closely. A home win against Leverkusen could provide them with some vital breathing space and possibly propel them into the upper half of the table, depending on how other matches unfold.

Historically, the Rhine Derby has not been kind to Gladbach supporters. Their last win over Leverkusen dates back to November 2019, spanning 13 Bundesliga matches, during which Bayer has triumphed eight times and settled for draws four times.

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen has bounced back strongly after two consecutive losses, securing two wins in their recent Bundesliga outings. This turnaround has propelled Kasper Hjulmand’s team to 6th place, just four points shy of VfB Stuttgart, who currently occupy the 4th position.

As they aim for consistency, B04 cannot afford further setbacks if they hope to secure a Champions League spot this season. Their earlier encounter with Gladbach resulted in a 1-1 stalemate, a result that will undoubtedly motivate them to improve. Recently, they have exhibited solid defensive performance, managing three clean sheets in their last four matches while also netting 10 goals.

Leverkusen will be looking to replicate their recent form this weekend.

Team News

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Gladbach will be without regulars Robin Hack, Tim Kleindienst, and Nathan N’Goumou. However, leading scorer Haris Tabakovic is set to play as he aims for his 11th goal of the Liga campaign. Philipp Sander is also available for selection despite being substituted due to injury in the previous match against Werder Bremen.

Bayer Leverkusen

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken remains unavailable, with Janis Blaswich likely to take his position in goal once more. There is speculation that Hjulmand might introduce former Gladbach keeper Jonas Omlin for his debut with B04, which could add an interesting twist to the match.