Union Berlin will be desperate to end a winless streak of 10 league matches when they host Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, returned to winning ways by defeating Hoffenheim 2-1 last weekend.
Match preview
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Since thrashing both Mainz 05 and SV Darmstadt 98 4-1 in their opening two league matches of the season, no one could have foreseen Union Berlin's complete collapse across the last few months.
A run of 12 consecutive defeats in all competitions contributed to their legendary manager Urs Fischer being sacked last month, with former Dinamo Zagreb boss Nenad Bjelica selected as his replacement. The 52-year-old helped Die Eisernen draw 1-1 away to Braga in the Champions League in his opening match, which means that they will be eliminated from Europe altogether unless they can defeat Real Madrid next week.
However, Union Berlin clearly have far more pressing needs, namely moving off the foot of the table. Bjelica was spared from facing the reigning champions Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena in his first league match due to adverse weather conditions, giving the Croatian additional time to work with his new set of players.
They will need to beat Gladbach in the capital on Saturday to move off the bottom of the table, and potentially outside of the relegation zone in the process.
Having failed to win any of their last 16 matches in all competitions, that is unlikely to be an easy task. But the fact that they have drawn three of their last four games suggest the rot has been stopped to at least some degree, with Bjelica hoping that his fresh voice can have a positive impact on a squad understandably bereft of confidence.
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Gladbach, meanwhile, appear to be finally hitting their straps under Gerardo Seoane. Since a disappointing 3-1 defeat away to FC Koln in late October, Die Fohlen have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, helping them move up to 10th in the table.
Despite Hoffenheim carrying greater attacking threat for the most part during their encounter at Borussia-Park, Alassane Plea's dispatched penalty and Nathan Ngoumou's late winner helped Seoane's side to a crucial victory. Wout Weghorst had equalised for the visitors on the hour mark.
For the second time within the space of a month, Gladbach defeated Wolfsburg in midweek, moving them into the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal. After a goalless 90 minutes, penalties appeared to be looming, but Manu Kone had other ideas by scoring in the final minute of extra-time. Having last won a major trophy in 1995, Seoane will sense an opportunity to make himself a hero at his new club by guiding them to silverware next summer.
In the meantime, the former Bayer Leverkusen boss will have his eyes set on moving his side into the top of the table prior to the winter break. With ninth-placed Augsburg only one point ahead of them prior to this weekend's action, there is every chance that they can do so by inflicting further misery on their opponents on Saturday.
Team News
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An unexpected break appears to have helped Union Berlin regain some players back from injury problems, with Danilho Doekhi's foot injury making him the only guaranteed absentee on Saturday. Sheraldo Becker is also a major doubt, though, due to a muscle issue.
Bjelica switched to a back four in his opening game against Braga, suggesting this will be the way that Union Berlin set up once again. Robin Gosens was used in a more offensive position on the left wing, scoring his fifth goal of the season. Kevin Behrens and Kevin Volland are likely to join the Germany international in attack.
Gladbach, on the other hand, continue to have a host of injury problems. Ko Itakura, Stefan Lainer, Jonas Omlin, Hannes Wolf, Tony Jantschke, Lukas Ullrich and Mamadou Doucoure are all expected to remain sidelined, while Jordan Siebatcheu will miss out on the chance to face his former club due to a thigh injury.
However, Tomas Cvancara should shake off a knock to start once again. Seoane could retain the bulk of the starting XI which defeated Wolfsburg in midweek, but Marvin Friedrich is likely to return to the visitors' back three.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Juranovic, Knoche, Leite, Roussillon; Laidouni, Khedira, Tousart; Volland, Behrens, Gosens
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi; Honorat, Reitz, Weigl, Kone, Netz; Cvancara, Plea
We say: Union Berlin 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
Although Gladbach have massively improved in recent weeks, they have only won one of six away games in the Bundesliga so far this season. On the flipside, Union Berlin have not tasted victory since late August.
However, Die Eisernen have avoided defeat in three of their last four outings, and they will be desperate to deliver a victory for their new manager. We can envisage a share of the spoils, which would leave the hosts bottom of the table, but heading in the right direction once again.
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Top tip
Brett Curtis
