Two sides who have made underwhelming starts to the season get the Bundesliga weekend underway on Friday at Borussia-Park, when Borussia Monchengladbach host Werder Bremen.
Both clubs enter the weekend in the bottom half and will look to close the gap on the European places before the winter break starts next week.
Match preview
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After enjoying the high of reaching the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals in dramatic circumstances last midweek, Gladbach were sent crashing back down to earth at the weekend.
Gerardo Seoane's side became the first in 17 matches to lose against Union Berlin, and they were beaten convincingly, going 3-0 down before Alassane Plea's late consolation.
It was yet another result which contributes to a frustrating start, but they have notably improved since winning just one of their opening eight Bundesliga games.
Gladbach have their home form to thank for that, as they are on their best home run in over four years, winning five matches in a row here.
It was two wins at Borussia-Park which advanced them through the Pokal, beating Heidenheim and Wolfsburg, two sides they have also beaten in the league so far this season.
With a clash against third-tier giant-killers Saarbrucken to come in the quarter-final, the fans will be expecting a semi-final berth in a wide open Pokal, with so many of the big guns already out.
Despite their shaky start in the league, they are still just a few good results short of the European places, seven points back.
With a tricky trip to Eintracht Frankfurt still to come before the break too, tightening up defensively will be the key to their success, as Gladbach have proven very capable at finding the net with regularity.
No team outside the top four has scored more goals than their 28 in 14 games, but only bottom-of-the-table Darmstadt have a worse defensive record.
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Facing a side with such a good home record will be daunting for Werder Bremen, though, a club currently suffering their worst streak of away results in six years.
In their last nine Bundesliga away matches, Bremen have taken just one point and unsurprisingly sit bottom of the table when it comes to points collected away from home.
Despite that concerning record, Ole Werner's side could still jump into the top half with a win, as it would take them above Gladbach two points ahead of them, and could see them go ahead of Augsburg in ninth.
Augsburg were the side Bremen got the better of last weekend to end a four-game winless run, but after taking 13 of their 14 points at home, results must improve away if they are to seriously threaten the European spots in the new year.
Their second goal in that Augsburg win made headlines for the bizarre incident which preceded it, and left opposing full-back Mads Pedersen enraged, as he was walking off to be substituted only to realise the game was allowed to restart, and Bremen ultimately scored from a Mitchell Weiser cross on his wing.
Team News
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Gladbach attackers Tomas Cvancara and Robin Hack are both doubts for this clash after coming down with illness in the past week.
Tony Jantschke and Ko Itakura are set to miss out in defence, but along with Jordan Siebatcheu, all three could return before the final league game ahead of the winter break.
Goalkeeper Jonas Omlin will not return until club action resumes in 2024 though, so Moritz Nicolas will continue to deputise.
Hannes Wolf is also out until the new year, while important midfielder Manu Kone is doubtful after missing their defeat to Union Berlin last weekend.
Bremen are also without a considerable number of players ahead of this away clash, with Marco Friedl and Michael Zetterer both out until January.
Milos Veljkovic and Leonardo Bittencourt are closing in on returns, but the break may come just too soon for them to make a comeback on the field.
Nicolai Rapp and Leon Opitz remain long-term absentees having not yet featured this season, while Amos Pieper is out for most of the season after breaking his ankle recently.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Elvedi, Freidrich; Weigl, Neuhaus, Reits, Netz, Honorat; Plea, Cvancara
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Pavlenka; Gross, Stark, Jung; Weiser, Schmid, Stage, Lynen, Agu; Borre, Ducksch
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 Werder Bremen
Goals are often in plentiful supply when Gladbach are involved, and superb home form of late should see them take another three points here in a potential high-scoring encounter.
Bremen's away form is of real concern, and they have not won at Borussia-Park in eight years, so another tough evening on the road could await.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
