Borussia Monchengladbach have surprised many onlookers in the Champions League. They are atop Group B heading into matchday 4 against Shakhtar Donetsk with five points from nine possible.
Shakhtar Donetsk are just one point behind the Foals with four points from nine possible. They limp into the game on Wednesday night following a humbling matchday 3 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 at home.
🎙️ #Rose: "@bensebainiRams is still in quarantine after his positive test, but @alassane_plea's is over and he is allowed to train today. We'll have to see whether he is fit enough to be involved tomorrow."#DieFohlen #UCL #BMGSHK pic.twitter.com/DIuUU4oabg— Gladbach (@borussia_en) November 24, 2020
🎙️ #Rose: "@bensebainiRams is still in quarantine after his positive test, but @alassane_plea's is over and he is allowed to train today. We'll have to see whether he is fit enough to be involved tomorrow."#DieFohlen #UCL #BMGSHK pic.twitter.com/DIuUU4oabg
Real Madrid and Inter Milan are chasing both Borussia Monchengladbach and Shakhtar Donetsk in Group B. A win for Borussia Monchengladbach would inch them closer to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Marco Rose’s team are unbeaten in the group stage with one win and two draws after three games. In truth, Borussia Monchengladbach should have won all three of those games. They led late versus both Real Madrid and Inter Milan, but allowed goals, falling to draws.
Shakhtar Donetsk shocked Real Madrid with an away win before grabbing a draw at San Siro versus Inter Milan. However, their loss to the Foals showed just how Jekyll and Hyde the club can be.
Gladbach have not had the same success in the Bundesliga. Their last two matches in the league ended without a win. They did grab a draw versus Schalke at the weekend but it came after a loss to Augsburg.
After their loss to Borussia Monchengladbach, Shakhtar Donetsk picked up a league win and draw. Last weekend, the Miners registered a 1-1 draw versus Olexandriya.
Rose is without three players heading into the game this week. Ramy Bensebaini and Allasane Plea both tested positive for COVID-19 recently. Plea’s positive test came before Bensebaini’s.
The forward could make it back in time for the game. Plea scored a hat-trick in the previous match between the clubs. Jonas Hofman is out of action until December due to a hamstring strain.
Shakhtar Donetsk manager Luis Castro could have Dentinho back from injury. He has an unspecified fitness issue. Yevhen Konoplyanka is ruled out of the game until December.
Can Shakhtar Donetsk get revenge after being humiliated on matchday 3? Borussia Monchengladbach should claim another win and move closer to progression to the round of 16.
Rose needs his side to claim a win versus Shakhtar Donetsk with two very difficult games coming up in the group against Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Don’t expect another 6-0 beatdown. Shakhtar Donetsk should make the game a bit closer as Borussia Monchengladbach claim a win.