Nine points separate Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Koln in the Bundesliga heading into Saturday's gameweek 25 encounter at Borussia-Park.
The home side boast a rather strong home record, while the visiting club are unbeaten on their travels under new boss Timo Schultz.
Match preview
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Gladbach's home record should give supporters confidence before facing Koln, but Gerardo Seoane's men still have to be wary of their opponents this weekend.
Despite losing their first three matches at Borussia-Park to start the season, the Foals have been defeated once over the next nine games in front of their supporters, coming in a 2-1 loss to Augsburg in January.
Five home wins in 2023-24 is a commendable return, as only five clubs in the Bundesliga outdo that number, and a recent 5-2 demolition of Bochum suggests Seoane's side are finding their scoring boots at the right time of the season.
Be that as it may, Gladbach's results against the teams at the bottom leave much to be desired, with draws against Mainz and Darmstadt, a 3-1 loss against Koln in the reverse fixture and a 3-1 defeat at bottom Union Berlin in December before the Berlin side's improvement.
Seoane hopes his side finally get a positive outcome against the league's third-bottom side as they seek a sixth home victory in front of their fans this term.
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Koln hope to extend Gladbach's winless run against teams beginning the gameweek in the bottom three, even if their underwhelming road results could undermine that ambition.
The Billy Goats have won just one of their 12 away matches this season, a 1-0 success over Darmstadt in December, losing six and playing out five stalemates.
Three of those draws have come under Schultz, who replaced Steffen Baumgart in January before ending the club's wretched outcomes on their travels, as seen in consecutive 1-1 ties at Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim and Stuttgart.
While Koln still await their first road win under the new regime, that objective is demoralised by the club's 52 Bundesliga losses against Gladbach, a joint-high number of losses against one opponent (also 52 defeats to Bayern Munich).
However, the Billy Goats' optimistic supporters could point to their recent results against this weekend's opponents, in which Koln have won four of the last six, possibly giving the visitors some motivation before Saturday.
Team News
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Tomas Cvancara is expected to miss Saturday's game because of an ankle issue, while Jonas Omlin (shoulder) and Alassane Plea (foot) are doubtful.
Rocco Reitz and Nathan N'Goumou have netted five and four goals, respectively, and the home side hope they come to the fore for a side possibly without Plea's services yet again — the doubtful forward is the club's leading goalscorer with seven goals.
As for Koln, the away side have multiple absentees heading into the weekend, with Justin Diehl (muscular), Mark Uth (knee) and Luca Waldschmidt (broken leg) all injured, while Dejan Ljubicic and Jan Thielmann are suspended.
Damion Downs is touch-and-go for this weekend's clash due to a concussion, putting his participation in doubt.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Elvedi, Itakura, Wober; Honorat, Reitz, Weigl, Kone, Netz; Jordan, Ngoumou
FC Koln possible starting lineup:
Schwabe; Carstensen, Hubers, Chabot, Finkgrafe; Martel, Huseinbasic; Alidou, Kainz, Maina; Selke
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 FC Koln
Koln could secure a fourth consecutive away draw under Schultz, with Gladbach's recent unconvincing home results inspiring little confidence that a victory is in the offing.
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