Bundesliga Rhine Derby: Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. FC Köln Preview

This Friday evening, the Bundesliga features an exciting Rhine Derby between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Köln. Following their first win of the season last weekend, Gladbach is eager to maintain this momentum as they take on Köln. For the Billygoats, their return to the top flight has been impressive, currently sitting just outside the European qualification spots, and they aim to secure back-to-back victories to finish the weekend within the top six.

Gladbach’s 4-0 victory against St. Pauli last weekend provided a significant boost for Eugen Polanski’s squad. Adding to the team’s optimism, it was announced that star striker Tim Kleindienst has extended his contract with the club until 2029. Although the German international has yet to play this season due to injury, he is expected to make his return following the international break in November.

As they prepare for this weekend’s derby, it is likely that Gladbach will maintain a consistent lineup, aiming to assert their dominance against Köln in front of a vibrant crowd at Borussia Park. Having utilized a 3-4-2-1 formation against St. Pauli, Gladbach is expected to replicate this setup, with Haris Tabaković spearheading the attack.

Notably, Tabaković excelled in the previous match, netting two goals and providing an assist, bringing his tally to five goals in eight games. Additionally, Shuto Machino and Oscar Fraulo both celebrated their first Bundesliga goals during that match, contributing to the overall team spirit.

Florian Neuhaus has also shown significant improvement under coach Eugen Polanski, having been previously sidelined. Following Polanski’s appointment as interim head coach, Neuhaus has been successfully reintegrated and has returned to form, suggesting that Gladbach might be finding their rhythm at a crucial juncture.

On the other hand, Köln, under coach Lukas Kwasniok, has made a remarkable return to the Bundesliga, sitting in 7th place after nine matches with four victories. If results align favorably this weekend and they manage to overcome Gladbach, Köln could secure a European spot by the end of matchday 10, just before the international break.

While the entire Köln squad has been commendable, Said El Mala has been in the spotlight, earning his first senior call-up to the Germany squad ahead of important fixtures against Luxembourg and Slovakia. The 19-year-old winger has found the net four times in eight Bundesliga appearances this season and has attracted interest from major clubs such as Bayern Munich and PSG.

Despite starting on the bench against HSV last weekend, El Mala will likely be eager to make his mark from the outset in this derby, while Kwasniok is expected to retain the same formation and ten players who initiated the win in Hamburg.

The last encounter between these two sides took place in March 2024 and ended in an exhilarating 3-3 draw. Köln remains unbeaten in their last three matches against Gladbach, with their last loss dating back to October 2022, when Gladbach triumphed with a score of 5-2. In their past six meetings, Gladbach has secured only one victory, while Köln has claimed three wins and two draws.