Our next opponents: Impressive at home Foals with new number one

Position

Gladbach were unsuccessful in the run-up to the Bundesliga restart in the New Year. However, Daniel Farke was able to be positive after last weekend's 1-0 defeat against second division FC St. Pauli. "You can often learn more from bad days than top days," said Borussia's head coach, whose team had won the previous two friendlies against VfL Oldenburg (2-0) and Arminia Bielefeld (4-0) without conceding. After "many reasons for praise", Farke is also able to be critical at the end of the winter break. At least with the lack of intensity in the first half, careless passing and too many lost duels. But everyone at Borussia Park is positive looking back at the last few weeks. "We had a very good build-up in terms of the scope, intensity and quality of the training sessions," said midfielder Christoph Kramer. The history of football also shows that "a setback in the build-up isn't that bad sometimes," added the former Bayer 04 youth and first team player. His coach takes the same view. It is crucial now "that we are fully fit against Leverkusen," demands Farke. Ideally he would like his team to continue where they left off with the impressive 4-2 win against Borussia Dortmund on the last matchday before the winter break.

Personnel

The transfer had been pending for a while but finally sealed on Thursday: Goalkeeper Yann Sommer joined Bayern Munich in the middle of this week after eight and a half years at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Gladbach reacted immediately to the departure of the 34-year-old Switzerland keeper and announced the signing of Jonas Omlin as the new number one on Thursday. The 29-year-old is considered to be the first choice for Borussia as the Sommer successor, is also Swiss and previously played in goal for the top-flight French club Montpellier. The 6'2" shot-stopper, who was in the Switzerland World Cup squad in Qatar, could make his Bundesliga debut for the Foals against the Werkself on Sunday. "He's a very reliable goalkeeper with good presence, strong on his line and also with the ball at his feet," said sporting director Roland Virkus.

The goalkeeper issue is sorted. In contrast, there are some question marks over other parts of the team. Borussia were only missing Yvandro Borges Sanches in the game against FC St. Pauli. The 18-year-old striker was sidelined with a hip injury. At the same time, several Gladbach players are still not back to 100% of their potential. Top striker Marcus Thuram had to be substituted earlier than planned in the last friendly due to a knee problem and he trained on his own in the middle of the week. Daniel Farke said it was nothing dramatic and it needed to be taken day by day. The coach does have more options in midfield compared with before the winter break. Florian Neuhaus came on late against St. Pauli following recovery from a cruciate injury. And captain Lars Stindl (after infection) and Hannes Wolf, who was sidelined for several months due to a shoulder injury, were able to gain match practice. The regulars in central midfield are Manu Koné, Julian Weigl and Christoph Kramer, who recently extended his contract at Mönchengladbach by two years to 30 June 2025. The 31-year-old is "a really important part of our squad with his experience on the pitch and his personality," declared Borussia sporting director Roland Virkus.

The two wingers Alassane Plea (seven assists) and Jonas Hofmann (six) are amongst the best providers in the league. The duo were even in the top four in the rankings in 2022. As an alternative on the right wing, one of the fastest Gladbach players Nathan Ngoumou is ready to play his part. The 22-year-old can – as in the friendly against Arminia Bielefeld – also play as a centre forward in the event that Marcus Thuram is unavailable. The French World Cup player with the Équipe Tricolore has started all 15 games this term, enjoyed an outstanding first half of the season and has already surpassed his personal best from the 2019/20 season with ten goals so far.  

The roles in defence our more or less clear. The USA player Joe Scally is first choice on the right with Ramy Bensebaini at left back. The Algerian defender, who likes get forward, has already scored five goals just like Bayer 04 player Jeremie Frimpong. In addition to Marvin Friedrich and Nico Elvedi, Ko Itakura is available again after a long-term injury.

Performers

The goal threat from the trio of Thuram, Plea and Hofmann is impressive. The three forwards have netted 17 of Gladbach's 18 goals this season. And they are also responsible to a great extent for the top rankings in terms of finishing accuracy (top in the league) and converting chances (third place). Borussia are also strong at set pieces. The Farke team have scored ten goals from dead balls (third place). No other team has scored as many goals from corners as the Black, White and Greens (seven). In addition, the Werkself will have to be prepared for an extremely physical opponent who have the best return in duels in the Bundesliga with 53% of challenges won. No wonder that the two Gladbach players Nico Elvedi and Marvin Friedrich have the best tackling stats. Joe Scally and Julian Weigl are also in the top five.

The Foals are particularly strong at home at the Borussia Park with 18 points in the home form table putting them second behind RB Leipzig (19). However, they are not unbeatable as home defeats against Mainz 05 (0-1) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1-3) demonstrate.

ProblemS

The Foals have not really got going away from home. They have only picked up four points on the road but that does include a 1-1 draw at league leaders FC Bayern and a goalless draw at third-placed SC Freiburg. There has only been one win away from home so far. "We have to be more consistent," demands Niko Elvedi. In the Hinrunde, an impressive 3-0 victory over RB Leipzig was followed by a 5-1 defeat at Werder Bremen but the next matchday saw a 5-2 win in the derby against FC Köln. There have been three defeats in succession in the DFB Cup and the league since the middle of October.

Prediction

Elvedi is definitely right when he says there is "still room for improvement." Coach Daniel Farke has given the team a new way of playing that takes time according to the Switzerland international. So it remains to be seen how the team deals with the departure of Elvedi's fellow countrymen Yann Sommer who was the main man with the Foals for many years. Borussia Mönchengladbach undoubtedly have the quality to play for a European qualification spot. But that does require better form on the road. There are good opportunities for that straight after the match against the Werkself. Borussia are away to FC Augsburg and then TSG Hoffenheim.