German Bundesliga - Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Union Berlin - Preview & Prediction
Following just one win in their last four games, top-four hopefuls Borussia Monchengladbach will try to get back on track while hosting Union Berlin, who find themselves just four points above the bottom three. Kick-off - at 9:30 AM ET on Sunday, May 31.
Gladbach Draw In Bremen
Borussia Monchengladbach dropped two points earlier this week after earning a 0-0 draw against Werder Bremen away at Wohninvest-Weserstadion on Tuesday. The Foals controlled the ball 55% of the time, but were trailing in shots (12-9) and attempts on target (7-4), with midfielder Florian Neuhaus responsible for a game-high six efforts (3 on goal). Gladbach have won just one of their past four outings (W1 D1 L2), but have still recorded just two defeats in their last 10 Bundesliga games (W5 D3 L2). They are 5th in the standings (W16 D5 L7), two points behind 4th-placed RB Leipzig. 3rd-placed Bayer Leverkusen, 2nd-placed Borussia Dortmund and 1st-placed Bayern Munich sits three, four, and 11 points above the Foals respectively.
French duo of Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram lead Borussia Monchengladbach with nine and eight strikes respectively, with both having also contributed eight assists each. Yann Sommer, meanwhile, tops all goalies in saves made, having stopped 110 shots so far this season. He has six clean sheets in 28 appearances and gives up a goal every 74 minutes. The Foals have scored the 5th highest quantity of Bundesliga goals this year (53) while posting the 6th highest amount of shots per game (13.7). The team is 6th in both ball possession (51.3%) and passing accuracy (80.9%).
Union Berlin Share Points With Mainz
A three-game losing streak ended for Union Berlin, who notched their first point since the Bundesliga restart following a 1-1 draw against Mainz at An der Alten Forsterei on Wednesday. Danish winger Marcus Ingvartsen tied the game at 1-1 with a direct free-kick in the 33rd minute after the visitors opened the scoring 20 minutes earlier, with the Iron Ones eventually holding on for a draw following the dismissal of Robert Andrich, who saw yellow for the second time at the end of the first half. Union Berlin is 13th in the league with a W9 D4 L15 record, sitting four points above the bottom three.
28-year-old Swedish forward Sebastian Andersson has banked a team-leading 11 markers so far this season but has gone three outings without a goal to his name after netting in three consecutive Bundesliga appearances prior. Goalie Rafal Gikiewicz, meanwhile, sits 2nd in the league in saves, having turned away 100 shots this year. He has registered six clean sheets in 28 starts this term and allows a goal every 53 minutes. Union Berlin is 4th from the bottom in goals scored (33) and shots taken (12.1 per game), as well as 2nd worst in ball possession (43.8%) and passing accuracy (70.1%).
Prediction
With six games remaining to be played for both teams, a lot is at stake for either side. Pick the better squad to triumph in this one, though, especially with Borussia Monchengladbach having impressed on own turf this season (W9 D2 L3). Union Berlin is the only Bundesliga team Gladbach has not managed to beat in their history (their only previous meeting finished with a 2-0 home victory for the Iron Ones back in November). Still, the road escapades have brought little luck to the Bundesliga newcomers this year (W3 D2 L9), with Berlin’s last two travels both finishing as losses.
Best bet:
Borussia Monchengladbach to win (-190)
