Our next opponents: Three new leaders for the turnaround

Position

After the 3-1 away win at third division Erzgebirge Aue in the first round of the DFB Pokal, Gerardo Seoane was relieved. "No friendly can replace a competitive match so you don't yet know where you stand," said the Borussia Mönchengladbach head coach after the successful start for his team taking them through to the second round. Borussia won all their friendlies in the preseason including most recently two matches against the top-flight French side Racing Strasbourg (2-0, 1-0). The Foals found it tough in the first 20 minutes in Aue and they went behind early on during this phase. Following a drinks break, the visitors increasing took control. Franck Honorat scored a deserved equaliser with an impressive overhead kick. Julian Weigl missed the chance to put his team ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time but left back Luca Netz netted a wonder goal just after the restart. A goal scored by Alassane Plea sealed a 3-1 win for the dominant Foals.

Borussia are looking to build on the win in Aue in the first league match against the Werkself. "It's an honour to be able to open the new Bundesliga season against the champions of Germany," said Seoane, predecessor to Xabi Alonso at Bayer 04, in an interview with kicker. "We feel huge anticipation and we are aware of the challenge facing us. For me Leverkusen are again one of the favourites for the league title." Nevertheless, the Mönchengladbach coach believes his team can compete with the Black and Reds. "I think we are more competitive than at the start of last season. We have a more robust team and I see a positive development in several areas. On top of that, a full Borussia Park where there can be an atmosphere that can help us get a result."

The Foals are looking to achieve a turnaround after three difficult years in the Bundesliga. Tenth place twice and fourteenth last season – that does not meet their own expectations. The target for the new season has been clearly expressed. "Borussia Mönchengladbach belong in the top half of the table," said sporting managing director Roland Virkus.

Personnel

The three new signings Tim Kleindienst (FC Heidenheim), Kevin Stöger (VfL Bochum) and Philipp Sander (Holstein Kiel) bring a wealth of experience into the Foals team. They are set to help with the development of young players like Luca Netz, Joe Scally and Rocco Reitz with their mentality and leadership quality. The new trio form a sort of block in the centre of the park. Sander, who played a big part in the Bundesliga promotion for Kiel as captain, is set to play in holding midfield alongside Julian Weigl or Rocco Reitz.

As a playmaker, Kevin Stöger was not only a key player for Bochum last season but also the top scorer with seven goals. The 30-year-old Austrian also had a decisive role in the play-off against Fortuna Düsseldorf: He converted a penalty to make it 3-0 to take VfL through to extra time and he scored in the penalty shootout and celebrated staying up with Bochum. Tim Kleindienst, a classic number nine, scored twelve goals for Heidenheim and that is the most for a newly promoted club in their first Bundesliga season. The 1.94 metre tall centre forward also demonstrated his ability for Borussia in the preseason. Kleindienst scored the only goal of the game in the last friendly against Strasbourg and he netted twice in a 3-1 win against the U21 team of Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town – both with his head. The new Mönchengladbach player is accordingly optimistic with his club going into the new season. "The football quality is there and it's perhaps more about developing a certain niggling mentality," said Kleindienst. Words that may well have pleased the sporting managing director Roland Virkus. He is definitely certain that the three new players "bring leadership in different positions and a good deal of personality."

One big personality at the club announced his farewell a week ago in an emotional video: Christoph Kramer ended his contract at Borussia leaving his options open for the future. "This here was my life," said the 33-year-old Solingen born midfielder with tears in his eyes. Kramer, a World Cup winner in 2014, played for the Bayer 04 youth teams for many years and he returned from Mönchengladbach for a season under the Cross in 2015. The midfielder made a total of 271 Bundesliga appearances.

For the Bundesliga opener on Friday night against the Werkself, Gerardo Seoane will probably be able to pick central defender Nico Elvedi who missed out in Aue due to an ankle injury. Winger Robin Hack, who was the top scorer at the club last season with ten goals and who missed large parts of the preseason due to injury, is available once again. Left-back Yvandro Borges Sanches (cruciate) is still sidelined.

Problems

The defence often proved to be the Achilles heel for Mönchengladbach in recent seasons. Borussia conceded 67 goals last term with only Bochum (74) and relegated Darmstadt (86) even weaker in defence. "We have to be much more compact in defence than last season, we have to be more active against the ball, we have to push ourselves to the limit physically," demanded Seoane who sets great hopes in defence on Ko Itakura. The Japan international was sidelined for months last season with a ligament injury and never regained his rhythm properly after that. "We are thoroughly convinced of his quality, Ko can be an extremely important player."

A look at the following stat demonstrates the lack of consistency for Borussia last season: The team gave away 31 points from a winning position – the worst return of all Bundesliga sides. Therefore it is about reducing the amount of possession lost according to Seoane. "Overall it is a question of allowing fewer attacks and fewer crosses. That means working on being compact but also thinking more offensively to achieve more possession."

Performers

Borussia pose a threat from set pieces: The Foals scored 20 goals from dead balls last season – the third highest number in the league. Now they could be even more of a threat with the power of Tim Kleindienst in the air and with the proven set piece specialist Kevin Stöger. The Seoane team did score more goals in the preseason through transitional play. The best provider was the Frenchman Franck Honorat with eleven assists. The new signing Stöger provided ten assists for Bochum. That puts both of them in the top third in the stats. "We are more active in our play and in defence as we saw in the friendlies," said Seoane. "I recognise progress in controlling games, in balance, in speed in our attacking play." So it is clear: The Borussia Mönchengladbach attack has again added quality with the signing of Stöger and Kleindienst.