Bayer Leverkusen vs. Gladbach preview: Who can claim derby bragging rights?
League leaders Bayer Leverkusen will look to continue their impressive form when they face Borussia Mönchengladbach in Saturday's Rhine derby.
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen kept their title charge on track with a dramatic comeback victory over RB Leipzig last weekend. Nathan Tella cancelled out Xavi Simons’ opener, before Loïs Openda restored Leipzig’s slender advantage. While Jonathan Tah was able to level the scoreline, the contest looked destined to finish all square. That was until Piero Hincapié netted a 91st-minute winner to secure a fourth consecutive league win.
Having now won 15 of their 18 top-flight matches (D3), die Werkself are sitting top of the Bundesliga table with a four-point lead over Bayern Munich, who beat Union Berlin in their game in hand on Wednesday.
After beginning the year with back-to-back away games, Xabi Alonso’s side will now return to Bay Arena, where they have dropped just two points this season. Leverkusen have also fared well in recent games against Gladbach, having won seven of their last eight head-to-head meetings (D1), including a comfortable 3-0 win in the reverse fixture.
Team News
Exequiel Palacios, Victor Boniface and Arthur are ruled out through injury.
Jonathan Tah will serve a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, while Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou and Amine Adli are on international duty.
Gladbach
After beginning the year with a win over Stuttgart, Gladbach spurned the chance to claim back-to-back victories in last weekend’s home clash with Augsburg. Jordan gave Gladbach a lead in the 26th minute, before Augsburg’s Phillip Tietz restored parity within two minutes of the restart. Arne Engels went on to score the winning goal to condemn Gerardo Seoane’s side to a 2-1 defeat.
Having won just one of their last five league games (D1, L3), die Fohlen are currently sitting in 12th place. If they are to move up the table, Gladbach will need to improve on the road after winning just one of their eight Bundesliga away matches this season (D3, L4).
Gladbach have conceded at least two goals in seven of their eight away league games, and their vulnerable backline could come under pressure against a Leverkusen side that are currently the top-flight’s second-highest scorers.
Team News
Lukas Ullrich, Tomas Cvancara, Jonas Omlin and Maximilian Wöber are all expected to miss out. Meanwhile, Rocco Reitz Alassane Plea and Chris Kramer are all doubts, while Ito Itakura is currently representing Japan at the Asian Cup.