Gladbach vs. Mainz preview: Two European hopefuls lock horns | OneFootball

Gladbach

Gladbach are sitting in eighth position in the Bundesliga table after winning 11, drawing four and losing nine of their 24 league matches this season. Die Fohlen have recorded four of their last six league matches, including a commanding 3-0 win in last Saturday’s away game against Heidenheim. Robin Hack scored either side of a Nathan Ngoumou effort to fire Gladbach to a third consecutive away win. As a result, Gerardo Seoane’s side finished matchday 24 just one point behind the top six, while they are four points adrift of their opponents in fourth position.

They will now be targeting an improvement on home turf, having won just one of their previous four matches at Borussia-Park (D2, L1). Die Fohlen will hope home advantage can help them record their first victory over Mainz since October 2020. The first goal could be crucial to Gladbach’s chances of claiming all three points, having won 10 of the 11 Bundesliga matches where they have opened the scoring this season (D1).

Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon Moritz Nicolas, Niklas Swider, Franck Honorat and Rocco Reitz. Meanwhile, Joe Scally and Kō Itakura are both suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Mainz 05

Mainz will carry significant momentum into Friday’s fixture after putting together a three-game winning run. Die Nullfünfer clinched 2-0 victories over Heidenheim and St. Pauli, before they edged out RB Leipzig in Saturday’s away clash. Nadiem Amiri cancelled out Xavi Simons’s first-minute opener, before Jonathan Burkardt found the net to turn the game in Mainz’s favour. Bo Henriksen’s side saw out the remainder of the contest to claim the spoils, moving them into the top four with 10 matches left to play.

Die Nullfünfer have conceded just one goal in their four-game unbeaten run, contributing to the fact they have the Bundesliga’s second-best defensive record with 25 goals conceded. They also boast a strong away record, having won six, drawn two and lost four of their 12 Bundesliga road trips. Mainz will certainly fancy their chances of taking something from Friday’s contest after avoiding defeat in their last eight meetings with Gladbach, although each of their previous three head-to-head encounters have finished all square.

Team News

Mainz remain without the services of Stefan Bell, who has been sidelined with a muscle injury for the last four matches.