Borussia Monchengladbach vs. VfL Wolfsburg – Bundesliga Preview
Borussia Monchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg are set to face off on Friday, August 19, at Borussia-Park. Both teams will be looking to strengthen their position on the table.
Monchengladbach so far have made a dream start to this year’s campaign, having beaten Bayern Munich in the season opener and ending up level with VfB Stuttgart in the following week. Wolfsburg have tasted both success and defeat in their two games so far
and will be looking to get back to winning ways against the Foals.
Borussia Monchengladbach
Lucien Favre’s side will enter the game as favourites keeping in mind this season’s performances so far. Last term’s relegation contenders will look to get themselves up on top of the table by beating Wolfsburg at home. The manager would hope to keep the
momentum going.
Following their win over Bayern, the Foals fancy their chances of beating any side in the league. Favre would ideally want a repeat of the opening week’s performance when they take on the under pressure Die Wolfe side later this evening.
The club have scored two goals so far this season compared to the one conceded. The last time Monchengladbach played at home, they drew their game to Stuttgart. Both players and the manager would definitely want to register their first home win of the 2011/12
campaign.
VfL Wolfsburg
Felix Magath’s men will be looking to get their campaign back on track with a win over the hosts. Wolfsburg haven’t won at home so far and their last victory came on the opening weekend against FC Koln at RheinEnergieStadion.
Die Wolfe lost their first home game to Bayern Munich last Saturday. The manager would want his side to repeat the feat achieved two weeks back against Koln and get up to the third spot. Wolfsburg have netted three times so far in the league and conceded
once.
The visitors hold a slight advantage over their opponents in this regard but will definitely be the underdogs going into Friday’s game.
Team News
Borussia Monchengladbach
The home team will go in with a standard 4-4-2 formation. Raul Bobadilla and Mike Hanke will form a partnership upfront. The duo will be supported by Marco Reus and Roman Neustadter in the central midfield. Marc-Andre ter Stegen will guard the home side’s
net.
VfL Wolfsburg
The visitors will also take to the pitch in a 4-4-2 formation. Patrick Helmes and Mario Mandzukic will once again be starting upfront. Newly recruited midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger is set to make his debut for Die Wolfe, while Hasan Salihamidzic is likely
to start from the bench. Diego Benaglio will start in the goal for Felix Magath.
Players to Watch
The Foals will be counting on the skill of experienced defender and skipper Filip Daems, who is expected to play a huge role in the defence. The home side’s focus will be on stopping the attacking Wolfsburg side from getting into their half. Daeme also scored
in his side’s 1-1 draw against Stuttgart from the penalty spot.
Wolfsburg would look for inspiration from striker Helmes, who scored a brace in his team’s 3-0 win over Koln two weeks back. The German, though, failed to make an impact against the Bavarians last Saturday. Magath would want his ace to shine again and guide
his team further up the table.
Prediction
Wolfsburg will go into the game under pressure, having lost their previous match. The home side remain unbeaten so far and the same story is likely to be repeated later today. Monchengladbach are favourites to edge out Die Wolfe by a 1-0 margin.
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