Gladbach vs. Wolfsburg preview: Two mid-table teams looking to finish a few places higher | OneFootball

BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH

Borussia Mönchengladbach (13-6-14, 10th) had an opportunity to qualify for European competition, back when they defeated RB Leipzig at Borussia-Park on 29. March. Seven weeks later, Die Fohlen walk into the same venue knowing, after a string of poor results (0-2-4), that they will not be competing for a place in European competition.

That record is especially interesting when the results are evaluated: Gladbach scored two goals or more in three of those matches, a 2-3 defeat to Dortmund, a 3-4 defeat to Kiel, and a 4-4 draw with Hoffenheim. In two of those three matches, they launched at least ten shots against their opposition, but in other matches, such as the one against FC St. Pauli on 6. April, they were dominated in various different categories.

There are conflicting reports from German media about whether Swiss coach Gerardo Seoane might be fired or not; reports on Sunday from Kicker indicate that sporting director Roland Virkus wants to extend Seoane's contract to 2026, but other reports from media connected to the club indicate that Virkus and the board now appear to be discussing whether a replacement for him is needed.

Seoane himself was asked this during the press conference following the recent 0-2 defeat to FC Bayern over the weekend, and said, “I do not know what is being discussed”. When the media pressured him to answer a new question about when the extension would be signed, he laughed to them and said, “Thank you, have a nice day!” before leaving the room. Throughout the conference, Seoane was asked questions that seemed critical of his coaching style, including how he directed the team on the touchline.

This Thursday, the questions were more focused on the match at hand, more respectful of Seoane overall; the first question he was asked was how psychologically important it would be for the club to finish the season with a victory, to which he replied: “Home matches are always special and this one is very important to us. First of all, we want to build on our improved performances in the last two matches and give it everything we have”.

Seoane added, “It is a home match where our spectators can celebrate a good match, and end positively, together with our supporters. Of course, we also know that a positive outcome in that match has an importance, especially for the overall table”. He added: “After matches without a win, it is always important to feel that you can defeat your opposition once again - with everything in mind, these are more than enough to give our all on Saturday, to bring the right level of intensity, to show the enthusiasm required and to convert that into a great performance”.

Team News

Goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas (adductor), centre-back Marvin Friedrich (muscle issues), defensive midfielder Niklas Swider (fitness), left winger Yvandro Borges Sanches (muscle issues), and right winger Nathan Ngoumou (Achilles tendon) are all unavailable for the match.

VFL WOLFSBURG

On the other side of the field is VfL Wolfsburg (10-10-13, 12th), who are starting a new era, under different leadership following the firing of Austrian head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl just under two weeks ago. Wolfsburg were also battling for European competition places before their campaign fell apart in mid-March, going 0-2-6 in their last eight matches after defeating Werder 2-1 away.

However, if there is any match that Wolfsburg have a decent opportunity to end their winless streak in, it is definitely this one. Die Wölfe defeated Seoane's Mönchengladbach 5-1 at the Volkswagen Arena on 14. January, on a third-minute penalty from Jonas Wind, and four goals in the final thirty minutes from Joakim Mæhle, Maximilian Arnold, and Lukas Nmecha. However, Wolfsburg have not defeated Gladbach away since February 2019, and have not scored in any of their last three visits, conceding seven in that span.

Under-19 head coach, and interim coach for the week, Daniel Bauer, spoke to the media at Volkswagen Arena on Thursday. When asked about how he feels about his second week with the main team, he said that he has been “working intensively with the team again … we had good, intensive sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday”.

When asked what the main critical point was from the most recent 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim, Bauer said, “Criticisms always sound so negative. I think the team was also very critical of themselves; we were not satisfied with the first half, because we became way too passive too quickly. We wanted to defend higher up, more aggressively”. He added that “We had possession of the ball in the first half, but we were too sloppy, too many easy turnovers, and we invited Hoffenheim into the match as a result”.

When he was asked what the team needs to defeat Gladbach away this weekend, Bauer said to the media: “First of all, we want to be bolder … we want to defend aggressively going forward, we want to keep winning the ball high up the field. We also need to contain [Tim] Kleindienst; I think they have an exceptionally good goalscorer, extremely dangerous in front, especially with crosses. That means that we need to be very, very patient”.

Bauer added, “Lastly, this week, we placed a lot of emphasis on what we do when in possession of the ball. We want to have more control of the game and we want to have a better pace overall, because we are hoping to create chances by circling Gladbach around the ball quite well and taking advantage. Overall, we want to play an attacking, attractive game that results in a good ending for us”.

Team News

Goalkeeper Marius Müller (concussion), left-back Rogério (fitness), centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw (fitness), centre midfielder Mattias Svanberg (knee), left midfielder Kevin Paredes (hamstring), and attacking midfielder Bennit Bröger (knee) are all absent from this match. Bröger is the only member of this list not to be returning to the club next season.