Wolfsburg host Gladbach on Sunday afternoon, and although the two lie in second and fifth place respectively, it's yet to be seen whether or not either can maintain a challenge on the mighty Bayern Munich this season. This game will be one of the first indicators in relation to which side is going to challenge last season's runaway champions.

Wolfsburg's title challenge also suffered a setback last weekend when their six-game winning streak was ended by Schalke. They lost again on Thursday to Everton in the Europa League.

As for Gladbach, they're also in a sticky patch in terms of form. After going 18 games unbeaten, Lucian Favre's side have lost twice in a row in the league, and drew with Villarreal on Thursday.

Wolfsburg will be without the suspended Luiz Gustavo, and probably another of their midfield enforcers, Joshua Guilavogui, who is an injury doubt. "We still hope he makes it, but it doesn't currently look like he will,'' according to Wolves boss Dieter Hecking.

As for Gladbach, central midfielder Granit Xhaka, who scored a rocket against Villarreal, will miss out through suspension. "It's really annoying that I can't play because of a stupid red card,'' quipped the Swiss international, who is confident that his team can record a victory. "We have proven that there is still life in us, despite two defeats in a row. We know that Wolfsburg can be beaten.''

Havard Nordtveit, scorer of the early opener against Frankfurt, also made the salient point that, “We didn't get carried away after going 18 games without defeat - and we're not going to bury our heads in the sand either after losing two games in a row.

The last time Gladbach beat Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena was eleven years ago, when the Foals triumphed 3-1 on Matchday 13 of the 2003/04 campaign. The Wolves, who have won their last five league matches in front of their own fans, have emerged victorious in 16 of the 28 meetings between the two teams, with Borussia winning on eight occasions.

Prediction: Wolfsburg 2:1 Borussia Mönchengladbach 

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About the author
Sean Tansley
Budding sports journalist and unbiased Liverpool fan.