Monchengladbach host Dortmund in a must win Borussen Derby for both sides in the final game of the Bundesliga season!
Gladbach are currently 4th in the table edging Leverkusen on goal difference and Frankfurt by 1 point in the top 4 race right now, however with this being the last game of the season there’s no place for error and they simply cannot afford to drop points and most likely will need to win, definitely would if Leverkusen or Frankfurt win to stay 4th and achieve Champions League football.
Dortmund are still in the title race after winning last week and Bayern dropping points, however their situation is still far from favourable considering they need to win this game and need Bayern to lose to Frankfurt at home since they’re 2 points off the top and have a far inferior GD. If Dortmund don’t win this game, then it won’t even matter what happens with Bayern as the teams are separated by 2 points.
Form wise, neither team are playing that great right now, definitely nowhere near as good as they did through the first half of the season. Gladbach have only won 3 of their last 13 league games and after at one point being in the title race, they are in serious danger of not even finishing in top 4. Gladbach did win last week though and did it emphatically smashing Nurnberg 0-4 but Nurnberg are bottom of the league although that win definitely could do with some confidence for Gladbach who are pretty much crawling across the finish line this season.
As for Dortmund they’re also coming off a win last week beating Dusseldorf 3-2 though it wasn’t very convincing. Dortmund’s form hasn’t been as bad as Gladbach’s, but definitely nothing special. After seemingly coming back to early season form winning 5 of 6 games during a stretch prior to this month, Dortmund have played some disappointing stuff in their last 3 games which essentially will likely cost the title. 2-4 defeat to Schalke followed up with a 2-2 draw with Bremen after leading 0-2 and then a very unconvincing 3-2 win against Dusseldorf where they conceded to 10 men and gave up a penalty that was missed in a game that could’ve very well gone worse than it did. Defensively Dortmund have been shocking in these last 3 games conceding 8 goals to 3 mid table sides.
Gladbach are playing at home and they have had a very strange run of form in front of their fans. What at one point was a fortress has now been a place where everyone are picking up points. Gladbach had won all of their first 9 league games at home, however they failed to win each of their last 7 with the only wins lately coming away in the league. Gladbach have drawn 3 and lost 4 of their last 7 home games (3 pts from 21) while having a -11 goal difference (6:17).
Dortmund have been an inconsistent away side, nevertheless winning 8 of their 16 away games which is 3rd best in the league. Dortmund have been a much worse attacking side on their travels scoring 27 compared to 52 goals at home, but have been better defensively away conceding 19 compared to 25 at home. Dortmund’s recent away form has been disappointing only managing 3 wins from their last 9 away games (3D 3L).
Thorgan Hazard is the man to watch for Gladbach in this game. He’s their top goal contributor despite not performing at the high levels he did earlier this season, he still is their best creator and can get goals too. Hazard has 10 Goals 11 Assists in the league this season being the 2nd highest scorer and 1st highest assist man. He got on the scoresheet and got 1 assist last week against Nurnberg
Marco Reus is the man to watch for Dortmund. Back from suspension and playing against his former club Dortmund’s captain will be expected to deliver. 16 goals 8 assists in the league this season and has a very good record against Gladbach scoring 7 and assisting 5 in 10 games against them since leaving the club.
This is a fixture that Dortmund completely owned over recent years winning 7 straight against Gladbach putting 23 goals past them in this run and they’ve bagged 3 straight wins away from home against their rivals. The reverse fixture was won 2-1 by Dortmund earlier in December this season.
Dortmund are tipped as slight favourites to win this game at 2.25 whereas Gladbach to win is offered at 2.75 with Draw priced at 4.10. The odds are based on Unibet.
Team News
Monchengladbach: Florian Neuhans and Lars Stindl are both out with suspension and injuries. Furthermore, Mamadou Doucoure, Patrick Herrmann, Raffael and Fabian Johnson are all doubtful to feature.
Borussia Dortmund: Marius Wolf remains suspended, Achraf Hakimi is out with an injury while CBs Diallo and Zagadou are both going to have to face late fitness tests.
Betting Stats
Monchengladbach have covered 62.5% of their total goal overs at home in the league this season (10-1-5).
Monchengladbach have covered just 18.8% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in the league this season however which is 3rd worst in Bundesliga (3-3-10). Expect more goals in the 2nd half.
Monchengladbach average 1.06 bookings per game at home in the league this season (17 bookings in 16 games).
Thorgan Hazard is Monchengladbach’s top scorer at home in the league with 6 home league goals this season.
Monchengladbach have covered 62.5% of their Handicaps at home in the league this season which is the best in Bundesliga (10-6), however they’ve covered just 1 of their last 7 after covering all of their first 9 Handicaps at home.
Monchengladbach have covered just 18.8% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in the league this season which is 2nd worst in Bundesliga (3-1-12). Much better 2nd half team at home.
Dortmund have covered 37.5% of their total goal overs away from home in the league this season which is tied 2nd worst in Bundesliga (6-4-6).
Dortmund have covered 37.5% of their total 1st half goal overs away from home in the league this season (6-1-9).
Dortmund average 1.56 bookings per game away from home in the league this season (25 bookings in 16 games).
Paco Alcacer is Dortmund’s top scorer away from home with 8 away league goals this season.
Dortmund have covered 43.8% of their Handicaps away from home in the league this season (7-1-8).
Dortmund have covered 37.5% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in the league this season (6-10).
KICK OFF – 18th May 2019 – 2:30pm UK Time
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