new game, new start
After an indifferent start to the season, the Werkself not only turned a corner but also sent out a clear message with the 6-2 win away at surprise team Werder Bremen. It was the ninth matchday in the current Bundesliga campaign. Last season saw the Werkself go on an impressive run from matchday 9 with ten games without defeat in succession up to Christmas. "Great stats and I'll take that straight away. But I don't look that far ahead. I only actually take – in accordance with Beppo principle (the road sweeper in the children's book 'Momo', ed.) – the next step against the next opponent. And tomorrow it's Mönchengladbach. It's a great and attractive challenge that we overcame last season," said Heiko Herrlich at yesterday's pre-match press conferencel.
and there was something else...
He's right. Last season, in the final game before the winter break, the Werkself met Gladbach in the DFB Cup Round of 16. Bayer 04 ran out 1-0 winners at Borussia Park thanks to the goal scored by Leon Bailey to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition. The team from the Lower Rhine had little reason to celebrate last term as the Herrlich team won both league games (5-1 at Gladbach, 2-0 at home). However, Gladbach won 2-0 on matchday one this season – it was also the first of five previous meetings where Heiko Herrlich lost out to Dieter Hecking as a coach.
a fourth clean sheet?
The Werkself have won the last three DFB Cup ties away from home without conceding. The Black and Reds, who have reached the Round of 16 in the DFB Cup five times in the past six seasons, have an impressive record on the road: In twelve of the last 13 away ties in the DFB Cup, the Werkself went through to the next round. The exception was the penalty shoot-out defeat at Lotte (2016). One reason to be optimistsic: The Foals have been knocked out of the DFB Cup in four of their last five home ties (including two penalty shoot-outs). And, in addition to that, in the last five cup games that went into extra-time. And another thing: Only two of the eight DFB Cup home ties since the summer of 2004 have ended in victory.
Strong at home in the league
One or two people will definitely feel shaky at Halloween parties following tonight's cup clash. Perhaps there will also be a creepy clown out and about. A look at the recent home results for Gladbach could also be a bit scary: Gladbach are certainly a force to be reckoned with at Borussia Park. Since February (0-1 against Borussia Dortmund), the Foals have not lost on their own patch – that is nine home games over the two seasons. In the current campaign, no visiting teams have taken a point at Borussia Park. Fortunately, the stadium on Hennes-Weisweiler-Allee is not necessarily a fortress in the domestic club competition. And the Werkself certainly know how to get a result as they showed last year. Do it again, lads!
Welz is the referee
Tobias Welz and his two assistants Rafael Foltyn and Guido Kleve will lead the two teams onto the pitch this evening. For the 41-year-old FIFA referee from Wiesbaden it will be the second time he has offciated in a DFB Cup tie involving the Werkself. Memories of the first game are not very positive from a Black and Red perspective: In 2014, the Werkself lost 1-0 after extra time against second division FC Kaiserlautern at the BayArena. And his last match in charge of the Werkself was not a success for the Red and Blacks (a 3-1 defeat away to Bayern Munich on Bundesliga matchday three. Back then VAR decisions saw him award a penalty to Bayer 04 and later a red card for Bellarabi. At this point, another valuable piece of information: VAR only comes into operation for the later rounds of the DFB Cup so tonight it is all down to Mr. Welz.
#BMGB04 – up for the cup
So far, so good. 1,850 Werkself fans will support Bayer 04 in temperatures around 10 degrees at Borussia Park. Tickets are available at the ground for away fans. As ever, all Bayer 04 fans, unable to be at the game are welcome to watch the Cup tie at the Schwadbud: The doors at the fan pub at the BayArena (East Stand) open at 19.45 CET one hour before the second round cup tie kick-off giving supporters the chance to get together and cheer on the Werkself. Other options for following the Werkself from afar are available on club channels such as live-text commentary on bayer04.de – plus Werkself Radio. And the Werkself social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat) provide a full picture using the matchday hashtag #BMGB04. On the pitch we are looking for another Bayer 04 win and a slot in the Round of 16.
