Gladbach to make most of erratic BVB's injuries
In the final round of Bundesliga fixtures before the break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Borussia Mönchengladbach host Borussia Dortmund in the Friday night match. Neither side have had much consistency to their results so far this season, but will want to sign off with a win and no further injuries, especially in the visitors' case. Read our preview here:
On the Marcus
Daniel Farke has had a mixed time since he was appointed head coach in the early weeks of the close season. Die Fohlen finished 10th last term, and currently look on course for a similar mid-table finish, well away from the recent highs of competing in Europe. One player who seems determined to right that wrong though is forward Marcus Thuram. The 25 year old has had a blistering beginning to the campaign, netting 12 goals in just 15 starts (including the DFB-Pokal). He very much is the focus point of the team in the 4-5-1, where he crafts space and makes himself as available as possible for the likes of Jonas Hoffmann and Alassane Pléa to cut in from wide to support him whilst the central part of the midfield largely holds fort. Hoffmann will be one of the more experienced hands in a youthful Germany squad, and he has had a productive campaign of his own.
Karim their hopes
Edin Terzić has presided over patches of form where BVB look irresistible, but this has also come alongside some very suspect performances, especially in defence. They face a last 16 clash with Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League despite only winning two of their six group games, and will hope by the time the first leg comes round in the middle of February that a greater semblance of consistency has been achieved. Three of the possible 'front six' on Friday night are still in their teenage years, a phenomenon that isn't uncommon at the club, but seems more pronounced than ever. Karim Adeyemi (only 20 himself) and Giovanni Reyna could swap flanks in an attempt to disrupt the massed ranks of the home side's midfield without the ball, whilst Youssoufa Moukoko is set to be the youngest player of all 32 nations at the World Cup at just 17 for Die Mannschaft. The potent striker has dislodged Anthony Modeste through merit and not because of the bevy of injuries affecting the squad at present.
Betting tip
bet365 have odds of 3.00 for Farke's charges to get a win that would take them to within touching distance of the top six once the league resumes in the middle of January.
