Xabi Alonso's seemingly unstoppable Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Borussia Monchengladbach to BayArena on Saturday in their 18th Bundesliga game of the season.
The champions are in second place with 38 points – just four fewer than Bayern Munich – and beat Mainz 05 1-0 on Tuesday, whereas the away team are 11th with 24 points and were beaten 5-1 by Wolfsburg on January 14.
Match preview
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Leverkusen should be credited for a strong performance against Champions League-chasing Mainz given they accumulated nearly two xG, produced 12 shots from inside the penalty area and limited their opponents to just one big chance.
The win was just the second time that the victors have kept a clean sheet in their last eight Bundesliga matches, but it was the 11th consecutive game in all competitions in which they found the back of the net.
Alonso's side rank as the division's second-best offensive and fourth-best defensive team having scored 41 goals and conceded on 23 occasions in the top flight.
Die Schwarzroten have been close to flawless for nearly two months now considering they have achieved victory in each of their last 10 outings, emerging triumphant against Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in that period.
The hosts' form at home has also been exceptional, with the club winning 10 and drawing two of their 12 most recent matches at BayArena.
Leverkusen emerged as 3-2 victors against Borussia Monchengladbach on August 23, though they did need Florian Wirtz to score a 101st-minute winner after squandering their 2-0 first-half lead.
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The visitors were thoroughly outclassed by Wolfsburg in their most recent game, facing five big chances and nearly four xG, the majority of which were produced in the second half.
Though manager Gerardo Seoane will be disappointed by the defeat, he will still be pleased that his side are on track to tally 48 points, 14 more than they totalled last term.
Die Fohlen have a goal difference of zero after scoring 26 goals and conceding 26 times in the top flight, and these figures make them the seventh-worst offensive and joint fifth-worst defensive team in the top 11.
Borussia Monchengladbach have been beaten in their past two games, and though they did win their prior two matches, they have only prevailed in two of their last six outings.
The visitors' record on the road is concerning given they have won just two of their eight Bundesliga away fixtures – losing four and drawing two – and have in fact only triumphed in three of their last 22 away matches.
Team News
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Leverkusen will not be able to select centre-back Jeanuel Belocian until September due to a cruciate ligament injury, while Jonathan Tah is a doubt because of illness.
If Tah is not ready to return, then Nordi Mukiele is likely to join Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie in a back three.
Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz may support striker Patrik Schick given the champions will be without forwards Amine Adli and Victor Boniface until February.
Borussia Monchengladbach's only injury absentee is winger Franck Honorat, though he is scheduled to return later this month.
Expect Alassane Plea and Robin Hack to flank striker Tim Kleindienst, who is likely to come back into the XI in place of Tomas Cvancara.
Centre-backs Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi are almost certain to start behind a double pivot featuring Rocco Reitz and Julian Weigl.
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Mukiele, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Schick
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz; Reitz, Weigl; Plea, Stoger, Hack; Kleindienst
We say: Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Even though Leverkusen could be forced to field a weakened back three, it is difficult to see Borussia Monchengladbach taking advantage of any weaknesses given their poor offensive displays so far this season.
Additionally, Leverkusen's exceptional performances in the past months should give fans optimism that they can win yet again, and their strong home record suggests that the visitors are unlikely to leave with any points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
