Koln are on a good run of form in the Bundesliga ahead of Sunday’s trip to Monchengladbach. The Billy Goats are unbeaten in back-to-back games, and they are coming off a brilliant come-from-behind 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund last time out.
Borussia Monchengladbach are start-stop under coach Daniel Farke. The Foals are ninth in the league with 12 points from eight games. Gladbach are three points off the top four, but they are coming off a 5-1 loss to Werder Bremen last weekend.
The defeat against Bremen ended a two-match unbeaten run of games for Borussia Monchengladbach. Bremen stung Gladbach by scoring five goals.
Farke has a lot of work to do on the training ground this week to improve Gladbach and prepare them for a good Koln team.
The last six matches between these teams were split down the middle with three wins a piece. Koln did the league double over Gladbach last season by a combined score of 7-2.
Borussia Monchengladbach have played well at home this season, with nine points from 12 points on offer. They conceded just two goals in four home matches while scoring seven goals.
Koln are unbeaten on the road this season. However, three of their four matches ended as draws, with one finishing as a win.
Koln outscored their four opponents at home by a count of 8-6. A win for Koln against Gladbach could send them into the top three depending on results elsewhere.
Farke has several players on the Gladbach injury list ahead of the match on Sunday. Forwards Torben Musel is out with a groin strain, and Hannes Wolf has a should injury that will keep him out until January.
Ramy Bensebaini could return to the team after an illness kept him from training. Defender Ko Itakura has an MCL injury and won’t return until November, but midfielder Florian Neuhaus is out for the season following an ACL injury.
Koln coach Steffen Baumgart has a host of injury problems ahead of round No. 9. Up to six players could miss the match, with Tim Lemperle ruled out with an ankle injury.
Goalkeeper Timo Horn is a doubt with a muscle problem. Sebastian Andersson, Julian Chabot, and Mathias Olsesen are all major doubts to make the squad. Meanwhile, Jan Thielmann could miss the game following an illness.
Absences could play a role in the game on Sunday as these rivals finish 1-1 at Borussia Park. Gladbach play well at home, and Koln have not lost on the road. It should lead to the teams cancelling each other out.