Bundesliga Showdown: Mönchengladbach Look to End Poor Run Against Dortmund
In a crucial Bundesliga match on Easter Sunday, Borussia Dortmund will host Mönchengladbach in a clash of two teams eager to secure a European spot next season. The two teams currently sit close in the table, with Mönchengladbach in seventh place and Dortmund in eighth.
A Look Back at the Teams’ Form
Mönchengladbach have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, according to a report by SRF. The team, managed by Gerardo Seoane, finished last season in the lower half of the table and even found themselves in the relegation battle at one point. However, they have since picked up form, particularly away from home, with four wins and a draw in their last five matches. As SRF notes, "Inzwischen sieht die Welt der «Fohlen» aber wieder ganz anders aus."
Dortmund, on the other hand, had hoped to mount a title challenge this season after reaching the Champions League final last year. However, they have endured a difficult campaign, with a mediocre start to the season under manager Niko Kovac. As SRF reports, "Das Team von Trainer Niko Kovac hat sich in den letzten Wochen indes etwas gefangen."
A Concerning Record for Mönchengladbach
One statistic that will concern Mönchengladbach is their woeful record at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park. According to SRF, in 23 meetings at the stadium this millennium, Mönchengladbach have managed just one win and one draw, with 21 defeats. The last time they won at Dortmund was in March 2014, when Lucien Favre’s team emerged victorious 2-1. As SRF states, "Einzig vor 11 Jahren setzte sich Lucien Favres Gladbach bei Jürgen Klopps Dortmund im März 2014 mit 2:1 durch."
Since then, Dortmund have racked up 10 consecutive home wins against Mönchengladbach, scoring 36 goals and conceding just seven. In their last meeting, Mönchengladbach took a 2-0 lead but ultimately lost 4-2.
Dortmund’s Resurgence
Despite their inconsistent form, Dortmund have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. They have secured two wins and drawn 2-2 with league leaders Bayern Munich. In the Champions League, they responded well to a heavy defeat in the first leg against Barcelona, winning 3-1 at home on Tuesday.
The team currently trails fourth-placed RB Leipzig by six points, and a win against Mönchengladbach could be crucial in their bid to catch up. As SRF notes, "10 Jahre ist es her, seit der BVB die «Königsklasse» zuletzt verpasst hat."
Injury Boost for Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach have received a boost with the news that goalkeeper Jonas Omlin and defender Nico Elvedi are fit to play. Both players have been struggling with injuries but have returned to full training. Omlin has been out for a month with a muscle injury, while Elvedi was forced to leave the pitch with a muscular complaint in their last match against Freiburg.
The two players could join compatriot Gregor Kobel in the starting lineup, with the Dortmund goalkeeper likely to be between the posts. As SRF reports, "Aus Schweizer Sicht könnten im Borussia-Duell am Ostersonntag übrigens gleich 3 Akteure in der Startelf stehen."
Conclusion
The Bundesliga match between Dortmund and Mönchengladbach promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to secure a European spot next season. Mönchengladbach will look to end their poor record at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park, while the home team will aim to build on their recent resurgence in form. According to SRF, this match will be a "Direktduell im Kampf um Europa".
The teams’ current form and statistics suggest that it will be a closely contested match, with both teams having a chance to win. As SRF states, "Kaum jemand hätte vor der Saison damit gerechnet, dass beim Borussen-Duell am 30. Spieltag der Bundesliga die Gladbacher in der Tabelle vor Dortmund zu finden sein werden."
Source: SRF
