Bundesliga Preview: Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Mönchengladbach
By Tom Rodgers
Team News
Borussia Dortmund
Lucien Favre will have a decent amount of players to choose from for this weekend’s clash but he will still be without long term absentees Dan-Axel Zagadou (knee) and Marcel Schelmzer (knee). Mateu Morey will still be unavailable as he is still nursing a thigh injury while Nico Schulz is still recovering from a calf injury sustained in pre-season. Raphael Guerreiro and Roman Bürki are also doubts after missing Monday’s clash against Duisburg.
Borussia Dortmund may well go with a similar forward line that played against Duisburg, with Thorgan Hazard, Giovanni Reyna and Marco Reus all finding the scoresheet while Erling Haaland will look to build on his three goals in two games for Norway this month, despite not finding the net against Duisburg.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Marco Rose had a fairly settled side last season but one player they will be without for this weekend’s game is forward Breel Embolo who is out with an ankle injury, which he suffered on international duty for Switzerland. Gladbach will also be without new signing Valentino Lazaro and defender Andreas Poulsen who have calf and shoulder injuries respectively.
Marcus Thuram will be crucial again this time round for Gladbach, as will Neuhaus, with his surging runs from midfield and threat in front of goal.
Expected Line-ups
Borussia Dortmund: Hitz – Can, Hummels, Akanji – Meunier, Bellingham, Witsel, Guerreiro – Sancho, Reyna – Haaland
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Sommer – Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini – Kramer, Neuhaus – Hofmann, Stindl, Thuram – Plea