Gladbach vs. Hertha BSC preview: Can the hosts maintain their unbeaten start?
Borussia Mönchengladbach will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season on Friday when they face a Hertha BSC side that are still yet to win this term.
| Photo: OneFootball |
Gladbach
Gladbach will attempt to maintain their unbeaten start to Daniel Farke's tenure when they play host to Hertha on Friday.
After thrashing Oberachern 9-1 in the first-round of the DFB-Pokal, Gladbach clinched a 3-1 home victory against Hoffenheim to begin the new Bundesliga season with three points.
They looked on course to claim a third consecutive victory last weekend when Jonas Hofmann and Marcus Thuram grabbed a goal apiece in the 72nd and 78th minute respectively to turn the game on its head after Rodrigo Zalazar had given Schalke a half time lead. However, Marius Bülter ensured Gladbach had to settle for a point after dispatching his spot-kick in the third minute of stoppage time.
Although too early to place much importance on the league table, Gladbach are currently sat in third place and are one of six teams yet to lose in the Bundesliga this season.
Gladbach will return to home surroundings this weekend, and they will confident of clinching their second victory of the Bundesliga season after winning their previous three league home games. Impressively, the hosts have found the net on at least three occasions in each of those recent victories.
Team News
Ramy Bensebaini, Ko Itakura and Lars Stindl missed training early in the week, but they have since returned and Farke has stated that they will be available on Friday, although Stindl may only be fit enough for a place on the bench. However, there are doubts over the fitness of Nico Elvedi, who trained individually this week due to a knock.
Hertha BSC
Sandra Schwarz is still looking for his first win as Hertha ahead of his fourth game in charge on Friday. His reign began with a penalty shootout defeat to Eintracht Braunschweig in the first-round of the DFB-Pokal after playing out a 4-4 draw in 120 minutes of football.
They began the new Bundesliga season with a disappointing 3-1 defeat to local rivals Union Berlin. Hertha would have hoped they could clinch three points last weekend against Frankfurt after Suat Serdar gave his side an early lead, but Daichi Kamada equalised in the second half to deny Hertha the chance to claim their first victory of the season.
Having won only one of their previous 13 Bundesliga away games, while being winless in their last five league encounters, Hertha may believe that a point is a realistic goal on Friday. Although, they can draw inspiration from the fact that they have scored in each of their previous five league away matches.
Team News
Sandro Schwarz has indicated that Marvin Plattenhardt and Myziane Maolida are doubts for Friday's contest. Meanwhile, Dong-jun Lee and Kelian Nsona will miss out due to knee injuries.
