Prediction: Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Union Berlin

Verdict: Marcus Thuram to score anytime

Best Odds: 6/4

Bookmaker: Bet365

Hoping to extend their stay in the Champions League spots this weekend, Borussia Mönchengladbach will welcome a struggling Union Berlin to an empty Borussia-Park on Sunday afternoon.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Starting with the hosts, while Borussia Mönchengladbach might open the weekend sat in that lucrative fourth spot, Marco Rose’s men have hit somewhat of a sticky patch. Playing out a sluggish 0-0 draw against relegation scrappers Werder Bremen in midweek, the Foals also put in what was a worrying display at Borussia-Park last weekend. Hit with a shock 3-1 hammering at home against main Champions League rivals Bayer Leverkusen, there is no doubt that Rose will be demanding his side find some much-needed stability on home soil. Aside from a close-fought 2-1 victory against Koln prior to the break, Gladbach have failed to win any of their other three Bundesliga matches at home, a run that has seen them drop points against Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, and Hoffenheim. However, still with a top-four return at the top of the agenda, fans around Borussia-Park will be glad to see Marcus Thuram make a return to scoring ways. Including marking Gladbach’s return to action with a strike in their 3-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt, the 22-year-old has scored two in his last three Bundesliga outings.

Team News

Gladbach boss Marco Rose has announced that he will be unable to call upon the trio of USA international Fabian Johnson (muscular), Tobias Strobl (hamstring), and Denis Zakaria (knee).

The Foals will also be without defender Tony Jantschke who will be serving a suspension this weekend.

Union Bremen

As for the visitors, despite a stunning start in their maiden Bundesliga campaign, Union Berlin have come crashing back down to earth. Freefalling away from the top half and some in Urs Fischer’s camp starting to look over their shoulder at the drop zone, the Reds have failed to win any of their last six matches across all competitions and many feeling they were lucky to have snatched a point at home against Mainz in midweek. Along with marking their return from the enforced break with a routine 2-0 defeat against defending champions Bayern Munich, there is no doubt that the morale in Union’s camp would have been hit by a woeful derby day thrashing last weekend. Completely outplayed by bitter-rivals Hertha Berlin, Sunday’s guests were hit with a 4-0 defeat on the road and have continued to show some glaring problems on their travels. Including that derby day mauling last week, Fischer’s side have lost each of their last three Bundesliga away fixtures, shipping at least a trio of goals in each of those defeats.

Team News

Still struggling to find match fitness, midfielder Akaki Gogia will once again be unable to feature at Borussia-Park this weekend. Union will also be without both Robert Andrich (suspended) and striker Sheraldo Becker (thigh).

Key Factors to Consider

• Borussia Mönchengladbach were hit with a 2-0 defeat when the two sides faced off earlier in the season.
• Both teams have scored in each of Gladbach’s last five matchups at Borussia-Park.
• Gladbach striker Marcus Thuram has two goals in his last three Bundesliga matches since returning from the enforced break.
• Union Berlin have lost their last three Bundesliga matches on the road, shipping over 2.5 goals in each of those defeats.
• The Reds have also recorded just a sole away clean sheet this season.

Conclusion

While Gladbach might have been showing some recent issues at Borussia-Park, there is no doubt that Sunday’s hosts should see this as a real chance to extend their stay in the top-four. With Union continuing to show some worrying problems at the back end of the campaign, particularly on the road, the red-hot Marcus Thuram should be relishing the Reds’ arrival. Bagging two goals in three Bundesliga matchups since returning from the enforced break, the 22-year-old should be confident of cashing in on a Union defence that has shipped 10 goals in their last three appearances on the road.

Verdict: Marcus Thuram to score anytime

Best Odds: 6/4

Bookmaker: Bet365