Bundesliga Showdown: Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. FC Köln

This Friday evening, the Bundesliga will showcase an exciting Rhine Derby as Borussia Mönchengladbach takes on FC Köln. For Gladbach, their recent triumph in the league has provided a much-needed morale boost, which they aim to carry into this crucial match. Meanwhile, Köln has made a remarkable return to the top flight, currently on the verge of breaking into European competition, and they will be looking to secure back-to-back victories to solidify their position within the top six.

Gladbach’s 4-0 victory away against St. Pauli last weekend was a significant turnaround for Eugen Polanski’s squad. Adding to the positive atmosphere, the club recently announced that their top striker, Tim Kleindienst, has extended his contract until 2029. Although the German international has yet to play this season due to injury, he is expected to make his much-anticipated return following the international break in November.

As they prepare for the derby, Gladbach will likely maintain their current lineup and strategy, aiming to take the initiative against Köln in front of a lively crowd at Borussia Park. Having employed a 3-4-2-1 formation against St. Pauli, Polanski’s side is expected to stick with the same setup, featuring Haris Tabaković spearheading the attack.

Tabaković enjoyed a standout performance against St. Pauli, scoring twice and providing an assist, bringing his tally to five goals in eight matches. Shuto Machino and Oscar Fraulo also celebrated their first Bundesliga goals during that match, contributing to the team’s rejuvenation.

Florian Neuhaus has also found new life under Polanski’s management. After facing disciplinary issues that saw him demoted to the under-23s, Neuhaus has been reintegrated into the first team and is showing signs of returning to his best form.

Is it possible that the stars are aligning for Gladbach at this pivotal moment?

On the other side, Lukas Kwasniok’s FC Köln has enjoyed an impressive resurgence in the Bundesliga. After nine matches, they sit in seventh place, boasting four wins.

If results from other matches favor them this weekend, a victory over Gladbach could propel Köln into the European spots as they head into an international break.

While the entire Köln squad deserves recognition, Said El Mala has been particularly outstanding. The former Gladbach player recently received his first senior call-up to the German national team for the important fixtures against Luxembourg and Slovakia.

The 19-year-old winger has made a significant impact this season, scoring four goals in eight Bundesliga appearances and attracting interest from top clubs, including Bayern Munich and PSG. After starting on the bench against HSV last weekend, El Mala will certainly be eager to make an immediate impact from the outset.

Kwasniok is expected to maintain the same formation and starting lineup that triumphed in Hamburg.

The last encounter between these two teams took place in March 2024, resulting in an exhilarating 3-3 draw. Köln remains unbeaten in their last three matches against Gladbach, with their last defeat occurring in October 2022 when Gladbach won decisively 5-2.

In the last six meetings between these two sides, Gladbach has claimed only one victory, while Köln has won three and the teams have drawn twice.