In a match that could affect both the relegation battle and the race for European football, Borussia Monchengladbach are set to welcome St Pauli to Borussia-Park on Sunday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign.
Die Fohlen are ninth with 14 points and managed to earn a point against RB Leipzig on November 9 after drawing 0-0, whereas their opponents are third-last in 16th place with eight points and were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich on November 9.
Match preview
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Borussia Monchengladbach are currently two points from sixth-placed Union Berlin, who occupy the Bundesliga's Conference League qualification spot, and they are just three points from Bayer Leverkusen, who hold the last of four Champions League places.
Sunday's hosts were excellent in the first half against Leipzig, creating two big chances and limiting Die Roten Bullen to none, but Borussia Monchengladbach retreated deeper in the second half.
Head coach Gerardo Seoane suggested that the decision to defend deeper was tactical rather than his players being forced back, telling reporters in the aftermath of the draw: "In the first half, we created a lot of chances to take the lead. We threatened again and again because of our good mix of possession, counterattacking and set pieces. After the break, we sat very deep and wanted to hold on to the point."
Seoane's side have scored 15 goals and conceded 14 times in the Bundesliga, and these records make them the division's joint eighth-best offensive and joint sixth-best defensive club in the top flight.
Die Fohlen's form in the league in recent weeks has been somewhat better given they have won two and drawn two of their last four Bundesliga outings, whereas they had lost three of the prior four.
They have also won their three most recent home matches in the top flight, a significant improvement on their previous seven home fixtures, a period in which they drew three and lost four.
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St Pauli come into Sunday's clash having lost against Bayern, though they should take positives from that game considering they were able to frustrate the rampant Bavarians in front of goal.
Indeed, Vincent Kompany's side had scored 32 goals in their first nine league matches, but Kiezkicker's opponents produced just 0.8 xG on the day.
Head coach Alexander Blessin praised his players, saying: "If you only lose 1-0 to Bayern, you've done a lot of things right overall. We didn't allow many chances. We knew we wouldn't get many chances from open play because they just press well."
Blessin's team have lost four of their six most recent games, but they have picked up four points from their last three Bundesliga outings, winning one, drawing one and losing one.
St Pauli have also triumphed in two of their past three away games in the league, and their record of 12 goals conceded is the top flight's fifth-best tally.
Team News
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Seoane's side have relatively few injury concerns, though they will still be without defender Luca Netz and attacking midfielder Yvandro Borges Sanches until next month.
The hosts could field a back four consisting of Joseph Scally, Marvin Friedrich, Ko Itakura and Lukas Ullrich, and they will be tasked with protecting goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas.
Borussia Monchengladbach are likely to start Rocco Reitz and Julian Weigl as a pairing in midfield behind Alassane Plea.
St Pauli have a number of absentees, including goalkeepers Soren Ahlers, Sascha Burchert and Ben Alexander Voll, as well as centre-back Adam Dzwigala.
Nikola Vasilj can be expected to start in goal behind a back three featuring Hauke Wahl, Eric Smith and Karol Mets.
However, midfielders Conor Metcalfe and Robert Wagner will miss out, as will forwards Elias Saad, Scott Banks and Simon Zoller.
Jackson Irvine and Carlo Boukhalfa may start in a double pivot, while Johannes Eggestein could be given the nod up front.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Itakura, Ullrich; Reitz, Weigl; Honorat, Plea, Hack; Kleindienst
St Pauli possible starting lineup:
Vasilj; Wahl, Smith, Mets; Saliakas, Irvine, Boukhalfa, Treu; Afolayan, Eggestein, Guilavogui
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 St Pauli
Borussia Monchengladbach have been in better form of late, and it is difficult to see them losing at home.
Having said that, St Pauli may prove to be stubborn opposition, and it would not be surprising if they managed to hold out for a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
