As Wolfsburg travel to Borussia-Park this weekend to take on Borussia Monchengladbach with a far better league record of the two sides so far.
Sitting fourth in the table, they are six points ahead of Die Fohlen, whose two league wins have arrived to snap a six-match streak of league losses. The games between the sides last season both ended in home wins, and both with a 1 – 0 scoreline.
Both sides come in off the back of 2-1 Champions League losses, with Gladbach falling late at home to yet another penalty, while Wolfsburg let slip a one goal lead to lose at Old Trafford.
Outside90’s David Jordan takes a look ahead at what we can expect from this clash.
Key Battle
The midfield, although cliché, is likely to be where this game will be won or lost, with Wolfsburg in particular boasting a strong attacking contingent. Former Gladbach flame Max Kruse will line up alongside Julian Draxler in the attacking midfield spot, and will look to break through the midfield two of Granit Xhaka and either Mahmoud Dahoud or Harvard Nordtveit alongside him. Shielding the Gladbach defence, the central pairing will be responsible for limiting the creative duo’s impact on the game, and cutting off the supply lines to the forwards.
Team News
With no fresh injury news to concern either manager, both sides should line-up similarly to how they have recently, with Andre Schubert likely to persist playing Lars Stindl as a more advanced forward following success in that role.
Borussia Monchengladbach expected starting XI: (4-4-2 [4-4-1-1]) Sommer; Korb, Christensen, Dominguez, Traore, Xhaka, Nordtveit, Johnson; Stindl, Raffael
VfL Wolfsburg expected starting XI: (4-5-1 [4-1-4-1]): Benaglio; Trasch, Naldo, Dante, Rodriguez; Guilavogui; Caliguiri, Draxler, Kruse, Schurrle; Dost
Previous Meeting
A 1 -0 win to Gladbach capped-off a stellar finish to last season, as the Foals fought their way to third place in the league, just behind their opponents this weekend. At that stage though, the Green Machine still possessed Belgian wunderkind Kevin De Bruyne, who has since moved to Manchester City and the riches of the Premier League.
However, Julian Draxler has been an adequate replacement and Dieter Heckin’s side also posess the aforementioned Kruse – acquired from their opponents in the summer. Kruse scored the only goal in that match and with Josip Drmic struggling to fit in at Gladbach, sporting director Max Eberl could be forgiven for missing the dynamic forward.
Prediction
Another home win here would be a huge boost for Andre Schubert’s side as they look to continue their resurgence in the league, while three points for Wolfsburg would keep the pressure on the top sides ahead of Der Klasiker the following day. With both conceding more than one goal a game on average and shipping four or more at least once, there should be some fireworks here, but whether either can grab a deciding goal will be the big test. Wolfsburg have only two points away from home in the league this season, and there barren run may continue again here, as Lars Stindl scores the winner to give Gladbach a victory.
Monchengladbach 3 Wolfsburg 2
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