Two sides experiencing very different seasons go head to head in the Bundesliga on Saturday as Champions League hopefuls Borussia Monchengladbach host Borussia Dortmund.
A victory for either team could prove to be vital heading into the closing stages of the campaign as they both look to clinch European qualification.
Borussia Monchengladbach
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The doubters waiting for Monchengladbach to slip up in their bid for Champions League football have been proven wrong week after week, and the Foals are just a few steps away from clinching a place in Europe's elite club competition.
It's been far from easy for Lucien Favre's side this season, but just one defeat from their last 10 games has earned them breathing space in third spot, and they head into the weekend 10 points clear of fifth-placed Schalke 04.
However, Gladbach will be forced to recover from disappointment this week after suffering a shock penalty shootout defeat to 2. Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal in midweek.
Tipped as certainties to reach the final four of the competition, Favre watched his players produce a rare below-par performance in a 1-1 draw before Max Kruse missed the crucial penalty to hand the hosts a surprise win.
Winning silverware would have been a great achievement for Gladbach, but the priority is clear for the club's fans, and they are on the brink of celebrating Champions League qualification.
Despite the frustration in midweek, Gladbach should be confident returning to Borussia Park thanks to an excellent home record which has seen them lose just once in front of their own supporters this season.
Recent form: DWDWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWWWD
Borussia Dortmund
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Much like the rest of their season, the past week has seen Dortmund's fans suffer heartache before watching their side offer hope that success is around the corner with a dramatic victory.
Last weekend, it was the result which no-one associated with the club wants to see as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich, and to make the loss even harder to accept, former Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski scored the only goal of the game to send his side another step closer to the title.
In truth, a disappointing Bundesliga campaign means that this season will never be looked back on fondly, but Jurgen Klopp's men kept alive their hopes of lifting silverware by recording 3-2 win over Hoffenheim on Tuesday to secure their place in the last four of the DFB-Pokal.
Another meeting with Bayern awaits them in that competition, but that thrilling victory should at least hand the squad a boost as they look to strike a blow to Gladbach's Champions League hopes.
The defeat to Bayern was their first in seven league games, but it left them six points outside of the top six, and Klopp will be fully aware that another defeat could prove to be crucial as they look to keep alive their bid for Europa League qualification.
Recent form: WWDDWL
Recent form (all competitions): DDLWDW
Team News
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Dortmund are sweating on the fitness of Marco Reus once again after the attacking midfielder and Mats Hummels both missed the dramatic win over Hoffenheim in midweek.
Reus is reported to be battling an adductor problem, while Hummels has been struggling with a thigh injury, but both could be handed recalls after being given the night off by the Dortmund medical staff.
Klopp may be forced into other changes after a gruelling 120 minutes against Hoffenheim, with match-winner Sebastian Kehl, Kevin Kampl and Roman Weidenfeller all pushing to start.
Favre resisted changing too much in what proved to be a disappointing cup tie with Bielefeld, but there could be a recall for Raffael, who might replace Andre Hahn in the starting lineup.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer, Jantschke, Brouwers, Dominguez, Wendt, Herrmann, Xhaka, Kramer, Hazard, Raffael, Kruse
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Weidenfeller, Grosskreutz, Hummels, Subotic, Schmelzer, Gundogan, Kehl, Kampl, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang
Head To Head
The reverse fixture between the two sides back in November may have been forgotten quickly had it not been for Christoph Kramer, who gifted Dortmund a 1-0 victory by scoring an own goal from 30 yards out.
Gladbach had won the previous two meetings between the sides before that loss, and they should take confidence from their performances in home games against Dortmund.
The Foals have lost only one of their last eight home games against Dortmund, with Lucas Barrios scoring the only winning goal for the visitors in the last 10 years to hand his side a 1-0 win in October 2009.
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Both sides had very different experiences in midweek, but Gladbach are in good form in the Bundesliga and the prize of moving another step closer to Champions League football should hand them a boost. Dortmund are likely to have some tired players after being forced into extra time on Tuesday, and the hosts head into the game as favourites to pick up three vital points.
Callum Mulvihill
