Borussia Mönchengladbach will be out to make it three wins in a row when they host Bayer Leverkusen at BORUSSIA-PARK on Saturday (kick-off 15:30CEST/13:30GMT).
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Following their 2-0 win at Werder Bremen – their third victory in four matches – fifth-placed Gladbach are now only five points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund. Raul Bobadilla has recovered from a groin strain but is unlikely to dislodge the front two of Lars Stindl and Raffael, who have five of the Foals’ 12 goals so far.
Watch: Gladbach warmed up for the Rhine derby in style on Matchday 8
Leverkusen were pegged back in a 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg last time out and they will be keen to improve their away record in order to get into the right half of the table. Currently 12th, Heiko Herrlich’s side have taken only one point from 12 on the road this campaign but they are likely to be boosted by the return of fit-again Chilean playmaker Charles Aranguiz. Jonathan Tah, Benjamin Henrichs and Lars Bender all missed some training during the week as a precaution but the Gladbach game will come too soon for defender Tin Jedvaj, who has recovered from a shin injury.
Probable line-ups
Gladbach: Sommer – Elvedi, Ginter, Vestergaard, Wendt – Zakaria, Kramer – Hazard, Johnson – Stindl (c), Raffael
Absentees: Benes (metatarsal), Bobadilla (groin), Drmic (not match-fit), Strobl (ankle), Villalba (finger)
Coach: Dieter Hecking
Leverkusen: Leno (c) – Retsos, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Aranguiz, Kohr – Bailey, Brandt, Volland - Alario
Absentees: Bender (brusing), Jedvaj (shin)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich
Jonathan Tah knows what is needed to win our next match! pic.twitter.com/6eut7NIdxD
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) October 16, 2017
Match stats
Gladbach are fresh from winning back-to-back games for the first time this season.The Foals have won their last three home games with Leverkusen.Christoph Kramer made 28 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen during 2015/16, before returning to Gladbach.Leverkusen head coach Heiko Herrlich won the 1995 DFB Cup with Gladbach and finished the 1994/95 season as Bundesliga top scorer on 20 goals.Nine points from eight matches represents Leverkusen's worst start to a season since 2006/07.Bayer have scored more goals against Gladbach than any other club (130).
Source: bundesliga.com