Wolfsburg vs Borussia Mönchengladbach

Volkswagen Arena is the venue as Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach go head-to-head in an intriguing Bundesliga clash.

Following an impressive Bundesliga start, Wolfsburg’s wheels have started to fall off lately, with Mark van Bommel’s men going from a four-match winning start to back-to-back league fixtures without a victory (D1, L1). Though a 1-1 home draw with Sevilla in the Champions League midweek stretched Wolfsburg’s winless streak in all competitions to four matches (D3, L1), the hosts can draw confidence from having gone unbeaten in their last 16 Bundesliga H2Hs at Volkswagen Arena (W12, D4). A 3-1 away defeat to TSG Hoffenheim last time out saw ‘Die Wolfe’ concede as many goals as they had in their opening five top-flight fixtures combined this term. Yet, Wolfsburg’s stubborn second-half performances have seen them register a shutout beyond half-time in each of their three Bundesliga home outings this season.

Meanwhile, Mönchengladbach eked out a tight 1-0 home victory over 10-man Borussia Dortmund last time out, meaning they’ve alternated between winning (2) and losing (2) across their past four Bundesliga outings. Though none of Borussia’s last five top-flight fixtures have ended level (W2, L3), the majority (60%) of those results (win/loss) produced a narrow one-goal margin, highlighting the potential for another cagey, keenly-contested battle. The abovementioned win over Dortmund may have lifted the spirits in the traveling camp, as they seek their first Bundesliga points away from home this season (L3). After losing their first three Bundesliga trips of the season, ‘Die Fohlen’ risk summoning demons from the past, as the last time they started a new top-flight campaign with four straight away defeats, they suffered relegation, back in 2006/07.