Borussia Monchengladbach will be looking to claim their first Bundesliga victory of the new season when they welcome RB Leipzig to Borussia-Park on Saturday afternoon.
While the hosts are down in 14th place after four matches, the visitors are flying high in third, and a victory this weekend could see them climb to the summit if other results go their way.
Match preview
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Borussia Monchengladbach have endured a difficult start to the new season, picking up just two points from their opening four Bundesliga games, although one of those points was admirably claimed in a 3-3 draw at SV Darmstadt 98 last weekend.
The Foals appeared to be heading for their third league defeat of the campaign when they were trailing 3-0 at half time against their newly-promoted counterparts, but the early second-half dismissal of Matej Maglica was followed by three goals for the visitors from Theoson Siebatcheu, Florian Neuhaus and Tomas Cvancara to help rescue a point on their travels.
Head coach Gerardo Seoane, who was appointed in July, has encouraged his team to 'defend compactly' against an attack-minded Leipzig outfit on Saturday if they wish to frustrate their upcoming opponents and open their account for the new Bundesliga campaign.
Posing a threat in the final third is also high on the agenda for Seoane, and Monchengladbach have certainly shown that in recent meetings with Leipzig as they have won each of their last three home encounters against De Roten Bullen by an aggregate score of 7-1.
Goals from Jonas Hoffman (2) and Ramy Bensebaini – who both left the club in the summer – helped Monchengladbach win 3-0 at home to Leipzig this time last year, but they lost the reverse fixture by the same scoreline six months later.
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RB Leipzig extended their winning run across all competitions to four matches when they secured a 3-1 away victory over Swiss side Young Boys in their opening Champions League group-stage fixture on Tuesday night.
After beating Stuttgart, Union Berlin and Augsburg in the Bundesliga, goals from Mohamed Simakan, Xaver Schlager and Benjamin Sesko helped Die Roten Bullen make a winning start in Group G that also includes reigning European champions Manchester City and Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade.
Head coach Marco Rose praised his side's second-half response against Young Boys after going into the break all square, and he has been particularly pleased with they way that they have "dealt with setbacks in recent weeks" en route to claiming positive results.
Although Leipzig have suffered defeat in their last three visits to Monchengladbach, a solid run of six wins in their last eight away games across all competitions – losing to Leverkusen twice during this run – bodes well ahead of Saturday's contest.
Die Roten Bullen, who won the German Super Cup in August, will fancy their chances in front of goal, as they have already scored 19 goals in their opening six games in all tournaments this term, including 13 in the Bundesliga – only Stuttgart (14) have scored more in the top flight.
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Team News
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Borussia Monchengladbach have been boosted by the return of Christoph Kramer and Manu Kone, who have taken part in full training sessions this week after spells out with knee injuries, and the midfield duo are expected to be involved on Saturday.
However, Cvancara – who has scored five goals in as many games this season – is yet to take part in training due to a foot problem and is a doubt for the visit of Leipzig, while Jan Olschowsky (illness) will also be assessed ahead of kickoff; Jonas Omlin (shoulder) and Stefan Lainer (lymph node cancer) remain unavailable for selection, though.
The potential absence of Cvancara will likely see Siebatcheu continue as the central striker, with support set to be provided in attack by Nathan Ngoumou, Alassane Plea and Franck Honorat.
As for Leipzig, they will be without key attacker Dani Olmo, centre-back Willi Orban and teenage defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu as they continue to recover from knee injuries, while midfielder Amadou Haidara is also out with a calf problem.
Rose could be tempted to freshen up his starting lineup, with both Sesko and Timo Werner pushing to start ahead of Lois Openda and Yussuf Poulsen up front, while Liverpool loanee Fabio Carvalho will be hoping to start his first game for the club in midfield.
Xavi Simons has made a bright start with Leipzig since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, scoring three goals and providing four assists in his first four Bundesliga games, and the 20-year-old Dutchman is expected to retain his place on the right flank.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Itakura, Wober; Weigl, Neuhaus; Honorat, Plea, Ngoumou; Jordan
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum; Simons, Schlager, Kampl, Forsberg; Werner, Sesko
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-3 RB Leipzig
Considering the contrasting starts that both teams have made to the new season, Leipzig will be regarded as favourites to claim maximum points on Saturday.
Monchengladbach have had plenty of success in their recent home meetings with Leipzig, but we believe that the in-form visitors will claim a comfortable victory at Borussia-Park this time around.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
