BORUSSIA: It’s been a tough return to the Bundesliga for Swiss tactician Lucien Favre with his youthful side only returning 1 point from a possible 12 after losses against Bayern Munich, Hannover 96 and Leverkusen before halting the losing streak in the away draw to Werder.  They’ve only lost twice at Borussia Park in the 2013/14 campaign, against aforementioned sides Bayern and Bayer, and will be looking for revenge after Hoffenheim inflicted a 2-1 defeat on them in September.

HOFFENHEIM: On the other hand Markus Gisdol’s side are always full of goals-for and against per usual. The opening game of the Rückrunde was a surprising 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Nuremberg, who secured their first win of the season but have recovered,  winning against Hamburg, drawing at Freiburg and last weekend on Matchday 21 winning 4-1 against Thomas Schneider’s Stuttgart. A moderate 7 points so far in the 2nd half of the season. 

KEY PLAYERS – BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH

German attacker Max Kruse. Many have disregard the 25 year old due to his lack of goals in recent Bundesliga matches but brings something to the table for Lucien Favre each game, his incredible work rate something to be appreciated, and It looks like something can happen whenever he is on the ball. His partnership with Raffael was one to be admired across Europe in the hinrunde and once Favre can pull the team out of this rut, I’m sure the pairing will be cohesive and leading the charge to secure 4th place again, hopefully not before it is too late.

Kruse has been a revelation for Mönchengladbach, costing a mere €2.5m from SC Freiburg in the summer. Bargain.  (Source: Torfabrik)

Defensively for BMG, Christoph Kramer is the very definition of a work horse, and has settled into the German top tier  (his first season, it must be reminded) and the holds the line in front of the defence assisted by Granit Xhaka well. Not really what Hoffenheim’s fine attacking plethora want to hear.

KEY PLAYERS - 1899 HOFFENHEIM

Another Brazilian starlet! This time it’s 22 year old Roberto Firmino. For a young player, Firmino has already racked up 90 appearances as well as scoring 23 times, this season being involved in 18 goals (8 of those being assists) proving to be a constant thorn in the side for those he plays against and is criminally under appreciated by some. One I most certainly hope Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari does not miss out on for the upcoming World Cup in Firmino’s home country- the perfect stage to impress.

His partner in crime Kevin Volland has been linked with teams such as Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool and despite Firmino being Hoffenheim’s best player (in my opinion) the rumours are justified due to Volland’s massive potential and already credible talent. Not the tallest of players but his immense skill and speed on the ball gives many a defender a headache. He scored against Die Fohlen in the tie at the Rhein Neckar Arena and considering ‘Gladbach’s poor form of late he could add to the eight goals he has fired home for the Sinsheim situated club.

 

Gute Kombination! The two have contributed 28 of the team’s 44 goals together. Look out Borussia! Source: ZdfSport

TEAM NEWS:

Mönchengladbach: Juan Arango was left out of the squad completely after failing to impress since the winter break, with Swedish winger Branimir Hrgota filling in nicely against Bremen and is widely expected to retain his place in the side. Oscar Wendt tore his ligaments in that game so Filip Daems could replace the 28 year old. Max Kruse has been having ” muscular problems” and Tony Jantschke has a dead leg, according to RP, but the pair could be fit for Saturday’s big match.

Expected Borussia line-up:
Ter Stegen, Korb, Jantschke, Stranzl, Daems, Kramer, Xhaka, Herrmann, Hrgota, Raffael, Kruse.

Hoffenheim; After the 4-1 demolishing of Stuttgart, Gisdol shouldn’t have any new injury worries. There’s no real reason to change his starting XI, though Sebastian Rudy could have some role if he returns from injury.

Expected Hoffenheim line-up:
Casteels, Beck, Sule, Abraham, Johnson, Salihovic, Polanski, Firmino, Schipplock, Herdling, Volland.

Some words from Borussia winger Patrick Herrmann on the upcoming tie:

“At the moment I lack a little luck,” says Herrmann. ”Against Bayern I hit the post, in Bremen the goalie somehow still gets the hand (to his shot) . It remains clear, it hangs a little in the head. Especially if we miss, as against Bremen, the victory.”

“We have too many opportunities messed up. The revenge of course (is needed). A point is simply not enough. We must not forget that we also played against Bayern and Leverkusen. Playing against Bayer we had to go out to draw, and we still lost.”

Prediction:

Well, there will be goals for a start! Both fantastic attacking sides but with ‘Gladbach’s recent troubles with finishing chances and Hoffenheim’s eye catching talent on the forward line but usually being so weak defensively,  I believe it will be an entertaining 2-2. Have your say!

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About the author
Callum Connolly
17 year old Southend United fan. Follower of Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.