Coming off a 1-0 loss last week to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga Klassiker, the road to the Europa League doesn’t get any easier for Borussia Dortmund. Next up for Jürgen Klopp’s side is a trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach, who have lost just once at home. As usual, Borussia Park has been a fortress for Die Fohlenelfthis season. Lately, the venue hasn’t mattered much for Lucien Favre’s team, as Gladbach have lost just once in ten league matches since the Winterpause.
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Borussia Dortmund 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Looking to stay in third place, Borussia Mönchengladbach host a Borussia Dortmund team that still has hopes of making the Europa League.
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They aren’t completely unbeatable, however, as third-tier Arminia Bielefeld proved Wednesday in the DFB Pokal. Gladbach went out on penalties, but Dortmund will be happy that the match went for 120 minutes. Fatigue could be a factor, as it was basically a first-choice side used by Favre. Although they were also taken to extra time in the Pokal this week, Dortmund played a day earlier.
When these teams met last November in Dortmund, just one goal separated the sides. An own goal, actually, dubiously scored from 40 meters out by Christoph Kramer. Although they got it via an own goal, Die Schwarzgelbedeserved the win, outshooting Gladbach 22-0. The victory halted a streak of five consecutive losses for Dortmund, but they weren’t able to continue the momentum.
This time around, BMG will be hoping to muster at least a couple shots on target. It doesn’t always take many for the Foals, as they demonstrated in the 2-0 victory over Bayern. They put all four of their shots on target, relying on Raffael’s clinical finishing ability to convert after rapid counter attacks led by speedsters Patrick Herrmann and André Hahn. Dortmund aren’t exactly a team that loves possession, so it will be fun to watch these two sides launching counter after counter against each other. Look for Shinji Kagawa to pull the strings in the middle of the Dortmund midfield, looking to thread through balls into the path of Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It could come down to the keepers, as both Yann Sommer (Gladbach) and Roman Weidenfeller (Dortmund) are more than capable of keeping their side in the game with some big saves.
Borussia Mönchengladbach injuries and suspensions
Out: Martin Stranzl (knee).
Borussia Dortmund injuries and suspensions
Out: Łukas Piszczek (leg), Nuri Sahin (abductor), Oliver Kirch (knee). In Doubt: Sven Bender (thigh).
Part of the reason for Borussia Mönchengladbach's sustained success this season has been due to their ability to stay injury-free. Martin Stranzl will miss out after re-aggravating a knee injury he picked up in February. For Dortmund, it's been an opposite storyline this year. Even though they've started to get healthy, a few injuries still plague them. Missing Łukas Piszczek hurts, but at least Erik Durm is fit now and able to fill in at right back. Mats Hummels and Marco Reus missed the Pokal match on Tuesday, but it was as a precautionary measure and they should be fit for Saturday.
Projected lineups
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Yann Sommer, Tony Jantschke, Roel Brouwers, Álvaro Domínguez, Oscar Wendt, Patrick Herrmann, Granit Xhaka, Christoph Kramer, André Hahn, Branimir Hrgota, Max Kruse.
Borussia Dortmund: Roman Weidenfeller, Erik Durm, Mats Hummels, Neven Subotić, Marcel Schmelzer, Ilkay Gündogan, Sebastian Kehl, Kevin Kampl, Shinji Kagawa, Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Match Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. local, 9:30 a.m. ET
Venue: Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany
TV: Sky Bundesliga 2/HD (Germany)
Online: Fubo TV (U.S.) Sky Go Deutschland (Germany)
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