Borussia Monchengladbach vs Aston Villa – News and Probable Lineups

As the 2026-27 Premier League season draws near, Aston Villa is set to visit Borussia Monchengladbach at Borussia Park on Saturday.

Die Fohlen aim to extend their remarkable winning run this weekend, while the Lions are looking to recover from their recent defeat in the Super Cup.

Match overview

Eugen Polanski’s team finished 12th in the Bundesliga last season, but after winning all seven of their pre-season friendlies, they are optimistic about making a bid for European football this term.

In their last match on Wednesday, Die Fohlen delivered a stunning 8-0 victory over SSVg Velbert, thanks to two goals apiece from Robin Hack and Florian Neuhaus, along with three goals scored within eight minutes of the second half by Elias Fard, Shuto Machino, and Fritz Fleck.

While that win came against a fifth-tier team, it’s noteworthy considering it followed a 4-1 demolition of Hoffenheim, which narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot in the previous season.

This fixture against Villa will be Gladbach’s last friendly before their DFB-Pokal match against Schott Mainz on August 23, which marks the beginning of their competitive campaign.

For Polanski’s team, this match will also be their first home game since the conclusion of last season, and capping off a perfect summer with another victory would provide a significant psychological lift for the club.

On the other hand, Villa has seen a revival under Unai Emery and will be eager to finish their pre-season on a strong note ahead of a season in which the Lions will once again compete in the Champions League.

Overall, the Villans’ summer preparations have been underwhelming, having lost three out of their six friendlies to date.

It’s important to note that all of those losses occurred against UEFA-standard opposition—losing 2-1 to Porto, suffering a 4-2 defeat to Real Sociedad, and getting beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich on August 7.

Compounding their difficulties, the Lions transferred their star forward Morgan Rogers to Chelsea earlier in the transfer window, and key midfielder Youri Tielemans also left for Manchester United. To add to the woes, Amadou Onana suffered a cruciate ligament injury during World Cup 2026.

Villa were further dealt a blow with a 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup final on Wednesday, leaving the club in desperate need of a positive outcome before their Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 23.

Team News

For Saturday’s match, Gladbach will be somewhat short in defence, as versatile left wing-back Jens Castrop is nursing a shoulder injury, right-back Yukhym Konoplya is dealing with a knee problem, and centre-back Fabio Chiarodia is recuperating from a thigh injury.

In their absence, Kevin Diks and Jan Leszczynski are likely to start in central defence, flanked by full-backs Daiki Hashioka and Lukas Ullrich.

As for Villa, they expect right-winger Leon Bailey to return from a muscle injury, although this match may come too soon for the 29-year-old.

With that in mind, John McGinn should be set to start on the right, with George Hemmings on the left, supporting striker Tammy Abraham, who is anticipated to replace 17-year-old Brian Madjo.

Additionally, summer signing Johan Manzambi is nearing a return from a knee injury, whereas fellow midfielder Amadou Onana is likely to miss most of the 2026-27 season due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained at the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Emery may opt to start Boubacar Kamara and Joao Gomes behind the more attacking Emiliano Buendia on Saturday.

Borussia Monchengladbach probable starting XI:

Olschowsky; Hashioka, Diks, Leszczynski, Ullrich; Sander, Stoger; Honorat, Bolin, Hack; Lidberg

Aston Villa probable starting XI:

Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Matsen; Chamber, Gomes; McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings; Abraham

Gladbach has been impressive throughout pre-season, and they appear well-prepared for the challenge of facing Villa after their notable winning streak.

The visitors are certain to put forth a strong effort, but it remains uncertain whether they can summon the resolve to perform at their best away from home following a challenging summer.