Borussia Monchengladbach vs Heidenheim – News and Probable Lineups

The upcoming fixture between Borussia Monchengladbach and Heidenheim at Borussia Park this Saturday is set to have major implications in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga.

Currently sitting in 13th place with 29 points, Gladbach finds themselves merely five points clear of the relegation zone, while Heidenheim is at the bottom of the table in 18th place with only 15 points after their recent 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on March 21.

Match overview

Borussia Monchengladbach managed to secure a point from their encounter with FC Koln on March 21, although they squandered leads of 1-0 and 3-2, allowing their rivals to equalize in the 84th minute.

Though dropping points from favorable positions is concerning, the team has seen improvement, winning two of their last four matches while only losing one, especially after failing to clinch victory in their preceding seven league encounters.

Die Fohlen scored five goals across their last two matches, which is just one goal less than they produced in their previous nine matches combined, though they have allowed at least two goals in four of their last six games.

Head coach Eugen Polanski is aware that three of the top five teams in the league remain on their schedule for the remaining seven matches, underscoring the seriousness of their relegation threat despite their relatively secure standing.

Gladbach has won their last two home games at Borussia Park, and the only loss in their last five encounters there came against third-placed Stuttgart on January 25.

Frank Schmidt’s team deserves commendation for their resilience in coming back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 to draw with Leverkusen, claiming their fourth point in 14 Bundesliga fixtures.

However, over that period, they failed to register any victories and risk falling 12 points behind the 16th-placed playoff spot by the conclusion of this weekend’s matches.

Heidenheim sits last in the league for goals conceded (61), having allowed at least two goals in 11 of their last 14 matches across all competitions.

The visitors have yet to secure a win against Gladbach in their seven attempts and travel to Borussia Park aiming to avoid suffering a third consecutive defeat against this opponent.

FCH must end their four-match losing streak away if they hope to remain in contention for survival, but it remains uncertain if they can halt their poor form, having lost 11 of their 13 away games in the Bundesliga.

Team News

Haris Tabakovic, the leading scorer for Gladbach with 11 goals, is assured a spot in the lineup, particularly with Tim Kleindienst’s knee issue keeping him out until late April.

Rocco Reitz has frequently been a part of the starting XI, featuring in 25 out of 27 Bundesliga matches, and he may be partnered with Yannik Engelhardt in a double pivot.

Due to some uncertainties regarding Kota Takai’s fitness, it is expected that Philipp Sander, Nico Elvedi, and Kevin Diks will comprise a three-man defensive line.

Heidenheim’s injury situation isn’t overly extensive, though they will miss left-back Leart Pacarada (knee) and midfielder Jan Schoppner (suspension).

Hennes Behrens is likely to be positioned on the left side of the defense, while Schmidt may deploy a midfield trio of Luca Kerber, Julian Niehues, and Niklas Dorsch.

Borussia Monchengladbach probable starting XI:

Nicolas; Sander, Elvedi, Dix; Scally, Reitz, Engelhardt, Castrop; Honorat, Stoger; Tabakovic

Heidenheim probable starting XI:

Ramaj; Busch, Mainka, Gimber, Behrens; Kerber, Niehues, Dorsch; Dinkci, Pieringer, Conteh

Heidenheim showcased some rare quality before the international break, yet their overall form raises concerns.

Gladbach should possess sufficient capability to pose a consistent threat to the visitors’ goal, and there is little reason to believe their opponents can effectively contain them.