Borussia Monchengladbach vs Hoffenheim

Borussia Monchengladbach and TSG Hoffenheim are set to square off at Borussia-Park in a handsomely-looking mid-table Bundesliga fixture.

It’s been a thoroughly disappointing Bundesliga campaign for Monchengladbach, who need a victory over Hoffenheim to secure another top-half finish. It could be easier said than done, as ‘Die Fohlen’ have racked up just one win in their last eight Bundesliga meetings with this opposition (D5, L2). Conceding first would probably lead to another underwhelming result, with Gladbach going winless in all six Bundesliga home matches in which they shipped the opening goal this season (D2, L4). Gladbach’s indifferent three-game home league form (W1, D1, L1) is worrying, especially considering they last won a home league encounter against Hoffenheim in April 2016, going winless in their five subsequent home Bundesliga H2Hs (D4, L1), all of which featured both teams on the scoresheet.

In the meantime, an underwhelming 4-2 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last time out has extended Hoffenheim’s abysmal winless streak in the Bundesliga to eight games (D3, L5), putting the final nail in their bid to secure European qualification. With nothing but pride left to play for, ‘Die Kraichgauer’ will be looking to claim their first Bundesliga win on hostile turf since early March (D1, L2 since) and thus beat Gladbach in back-to-back Bundesliga meetings at Borussia-Park for the first time in their top-flight history. Worryingly, though, Sebastian Hoeneß’s men have conceded 4+ goals in consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time since January 2018, highlighting the possibility for another leaky matchday. Indeed, only three times across their 16 Bundesliga travels this season had Hoffenheim kept a clean sheet.