Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Monchengladbach Preview: Team News & Prediction
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As Gerardo Seoane takes his Borussia Monchengladbach to his former club Bayer Leverkusen this weekend, the hosts are searching for some improved performances as they grind out results to keep pace with league leaders Bayern Munich.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 18th January, 2025: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
Bayer Leverkusen Team News: The switch in system
Throughout last season, two criticisms perhaps levelled at Xabi Alonso was too much rotation as well as little pragmatism and that may have cost them in the UEFA Europa League final.
This year, the former Liverpool midfielder has switched from his seemingly rigid devotion to a 3-5-2 system to a 4-4-2 last weekend before switching back in midweek.
Predicted XI (3-5-1-1): Kovar; Mukiele, Tapsoba, Piero Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich, Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo; Wirtz; Schick
Unavailable: Belocian (Injured), Adli (Injured), Boniface (Injured)
Questionable:
Borussia Monchengladbach Team News: Being pragmatic
The aforementioned Seoane is known for his attacking and often naïve style of football and that was exposed with a 5-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in midweek so things need to be tweaked here.
The visitors are dealing with a few injury concerns as Yvandro Borges Sanches remains a doubt, whilst the likes of Franck Honorat and Nathan Ngoumou are sidelined through injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Nicolas; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz; Reitz, Weigl; Hack, Stoger, Plea; Cvancara
Unavailable: Walde (Injured), Ngoumou (Injured), Honorat (Injured)
Questionable: Yvandro Borges Sanches (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Monchengladbach Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen come into this one on the back of a hard-fought and slender 1-0 defeat of high-flying Mainz at the BayArena in their most recent outing last weekend thanks to a 48th minute winner from Alex Grimaldo. That came a week after they defeated Borussia Dortmund by three goals to two in a game in which they dominated and should have won by more. Borussia Monchengladbach have slipped into the bottom-half of the Bundesliga after returning from the winter break with a slender 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich at Borussia-Park before then suffering a 5-1 annihilation at the hands of Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena in midweek. Leverkusen aren’t currently at their fluent best but, with the home backing, should earn themselves another win here.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Monchengladbach Tip: Bayer Leverkusen to win
