Bayer Leverkusen will look to stretch their lead at the top of the table when they host Borussia Monchengladbach. The Foals lost to Die Werkself 3-0 at home on matchday two in August of last year. They will be looking for retribution.
Preview (Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Monchengladbach)
After overcoming fourth-place RB Leipzig 3-2 at the Red Bull Arena last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen secured their 15th Bundesliga victory of the year and maintained their remarkable undefeated start. Die Werkself earned all three points the hard way, having to come back from behind twice in the second half until Piero Hincapie’s thrilling goal in stoppage time in the 91st minute—just one week after Eduardo Palacios’s stoppage-time goal helped Leverkusen defeat Augsburg 1-0 in their opening 2024 match.
After Bayern Munich’s 1-0 victory against Union Berlin in the middle of the week, Xabi Alonso’s team’s seven-point lead at the top was reduced to four points. Leverkusen now has two more Bundesliga games to concentrate on before facing the defending champions on home soil on February 10. Leverkusen has accrued an astounding 48 points from 18 Bundesliga games. It makes them the only team in Europe’s top five leagues to have not lost this season in any tournament. Only Pep Guardiola’s Bayern in 2013–14 (50) and 2015–16 (49) have more points at this point in the season.
After 18 Bundesliga games this season, Gerardo Seoane’s team has won five, drawn five, and lost eight. As a result, they are currently sitting in 12th place. They are eight points behind the top six and nine points ahead of the bottom three. Now, Monchengladbach is trying to win the league back-to-back under Seoane for the first time. Given their awful away record, they may not have much luck on Saturday.
Team News
The midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen, Palacios, suffered a groin injury against Leipzig. He will now join Victor Boniface (groin) and Arthur (thigh) on the sidelines. However, the team has confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong, who left the game in the first half after taking a hard blow to his right thigh, is not seriously hurt. Since Jonathan Tah is suspended for receiving too many yellow cards, Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou, and Amine Adli are all away at the Africa Cup of Nations on international duty. As a result, midfielder Robert Andrich may be called up to start in the back three.
Borja Iglesias is expected to sign a loan deal with Leverkusen from Real Betis. He may be able to make his debut on Saturday. However, Patrik Schick is most likely going to start at the front. Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann supported him in the last third. Regarding Monchengladbach, injuries have ruled out Tomas Cvancara (ankle), Jonas Omlin, and Luke Ullrich (both shoulders), and Ko Itakura is still overseas representing Japan in the Asian Cup. Rocco Reitz (muscle) and Maximilian Wober (sick) are also questionable.
After undergoing successful treatment for lymphoma, right-back Stefan Lainer made his season debut last Saturday as a second-half replacement. The 31-year-old Lainer will likely play again against Leverkusen. On Saturday, Alassane Plea—who has tallied a team-high seven goals this season—will attempt to snap a four-game goal drought. The Frenchman will be accompanied up front by striker Siebatcheu, who has scored five goals in his past five games.
Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
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