After serving up a crazy 4-4 draw with Augsburg on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season, Borussia Monchengladbach host Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Having secured a 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig last time out, Die Werkself will renew acquaintances with former manager Gerardo Seoane at Borussia-Park.
Match preview
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Borussia Monchengladbach kicked off their campaign with an easy 7-0 victory over lower-league outfit Bersenbruck in the DFB-Pokal earlier this month, with Franck Honorat and Tomas Cvancara both scoring twice in the rout.
The Foals were also involved in a high-scoring thriller on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season, although they failed to claim all three points after playing out a wild 4-4 draw with Augsburg.
Leading 3-1 after 37 minutes, Gladbach appeared to be in complete control at the WWK Arena, but with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, the visitors found themselves trailing 4-3 after allowing Augsburg back into the game.
However, following a brace in the DFB-Pokal, Cvancara netted a 97th-minute equaliser to notch another double and earn his team a point, meaning that Gerardo Seoane remains unbeaten as Gladbach boss after two matches.
Having managed Bayer Leverkusen between July 2021 and October 2022 - overseeing 26 wins, 10 draws and 20 losses at the helm - Seoane will be eager to get one over on his former club after getting the sack last season.
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Like Gladbach, Bayer Leverkusen started the season with a dominant win against lower-league opposition in the DFB-Pokal, thrashing Teutonia Ottensen 8-0 while racking up 67% possession and 22 shots.
Unlike the Foals, Die Werkself backed up that victory with a win on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season, claiming a 3-2 triumph over RB Leipzig thanks to goals from Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz.
Last weekend's victory is made all the more impressive when you consider that Leipzig crushed Bayern Munich 3-0 in the DFL-Supercup a fortnight ago, with many believing that Leipzig would hit the ground running in the league.
It is also worth remembering that Leverkusen enjoyed a strong end to the previous campaign under Xabi Alonso, as the Black and Reds lost just two of their final 13 Bundesliga matches to clinch a Europa League berth.
Thanks to last weekend's triumph, Alonso's win percentage as Leverkusen manager stands at 48.7% after 39 games, with the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder recording 19 wins, 10 draws and 10 losses since replacing Seoane.
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Team News
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The hosts look set to be without injured pair Christoph Kramer (knee) and Hannes Wolf (muscle) for the foreseeable future, while Stefan Lainer is a doubt for Saturday's clash due to illness.
Having netted four goals in two games across all competitions this season, Czech forward Tomas Cvancara will continue to lead the line for Gladbach, with Alassane Plea operating behind the striker.
Leeds United loanee Max Wober is expected to continue at centre-back alongside Japan international Ko Itakura, who scored the opening goal in the Foals' 4-4 draw at Augsburg last time out.
As for the visitors, Czech striker Patrik Schick (groin) remains a long-term injury absentee, while fellow forward Sardar Azmoun (calf) is also expected to miss the trip to Borussia-Park.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka will continue alongside Exequiel Palacios in Leverkusen's engine room, with Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Odilon Kossounou occupying the backline in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Scally, Itakura, Wober, Netz; Weigl, Neuhaus; Honorat, Plea, Ngoumou; Cvancara
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimgpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Hofmann; Boniface
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
If the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season is anything to go by, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen will likely dish up another eventful encounter.
Given the previous results of these two sides, we expect Gladbach and Leverkusen to play out a high-scoring draw on Saturday, with both teams netting multiple goals.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Morris
