In a clash that could significantly impact the race for European football, Borussia Monchengladbach are set to host Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga at Borussia-Park on Saturday.
The home team are seventh with 30 points and are just three points from fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, while the Eagles are third with 38 points and were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Wolfsburg on February 2.
Match preview
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Borussia Monchengladbach emerged as 2-1 winners against Stuttgart last Saturday and were good value for their win, with the victors creating four big chances compared to Stuttgart's one.
The significance of a victory on the weekend cannot be overstated given just four points separate 11th-placed Borussia Dortmund and fourth-placed Leipzig, and three points could change the makeup of the table considerably for the hosts.
Die Fohlen have scored 32 goals and conceded 30 times in the Bundesliga this term, and these are the second-worst offensive and joint sixth-best defensive records in the top 11.
Boss Gerardo Seoane has already seen his side take on Eintracht Frankfurt twice this season – losing 2-0 in the league on September 21 and going down 2-1 in the DFB-Pokal on October 30 – and though they have triumphed in their past two games, they lost their prior three.
However, Seoane's team boast a strong record at home in 2024-25 considering they have won six of their 10 matches at Borussia-Park, including six of their past eight at home.
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The visitors' tally of 1.17 xG last time out was the exact same figure that Wolfsburg managed, and both teams also created three big chances.
Eintracht Frankfurt are 13 points behind league-leaders Bayern Munich but are six points ahead of fifth-placed Stuttgart, so have given themselves a sizeable advantage in the battle for Champions League football.
Eagles head coach Dino Toppmoller will be pleased with his side's displays in the final third as his team have scored seven goals in their five games since talisman Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City on January 25.
Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in their last three fixtures – drawing two and losing one – though they did achieve victory in their previous four games.
The visitors' form away from home in recent weeks is poor, with the club having succumbed to defeat in four, drawn one and triumphed in just one of their past six matches on the road.
Team News
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Borussia Monchengladbach will have to contend with injuries to forwards Alassane Plea and Franck Honorat, while Tim Kleindienst is also a doubt, and their absences could lead to starts for Nathan Ngoumou, Kevin Stoger, Robin Hack and Tomas Cvancara.
Midfielder Rocco Reitz is not likely to feature as a result of a foot injury, so perhaps Philipp Sander will join Julian Weigl in a double pivot.
Centre-backs Ko Itakura and Nico Elvedi have been in the XI regularly, and they may be chosen to protect shot-stopper Moritz Nicolas.
As for the visitors, they could field a back three consisting of central defenders Nnamdi Collins, Tuta and Arthur Theate considering they will be without centre-back Robin Koch.
Wing-back Junior Dina Ebimbe has also been ruled out due to a calf issue, and his injury will almost certainly mean that Rasmus Kristensen and Nathaniel Brown play either side of the back three.
Forward Igor Matanovic's foot injury – which could keep him out of action until early March – makes Mario Gotze, Ansgar Knauff and Hugo Ekitike the most likely candidates to start up front.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Ullrich; Sander, Weigl; Ngoumou, Stoger, Hack; Cvancara
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Collins, Tuta, Theate; Kristensen, Skhiri, Larsson, Brown; Gotze, Knauff; Ekitike
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Borussia Monchengladbach should feel confident of at least avoiding defeat given the Eagles have been poor away from home recently.
However, Eintracht Frankfurt have proven they are still a threat in the final third despite the sale of Marmoush, and it would not be surprising if they earn a draw on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
