As in the duel with the Scottish record champions, second-placed BVB from Dortmund has to do without their goalscorer Erling Haaland, who only took part in part of the training session, due to a muscle injury. In addition, Manuel Akanji will be out for around three weeks due to a torn muscle fiber in his calf. “We have to look at Marius Wolf in the final training session, he could become an option,” said Rose on Saturday. Thomas Meunier, on the other hand, has to pass due to muscle problems.
The former Gladbach coach also shared the blame for the team’s poor performance following the 4-2 draw against Rangers: “The team performs the way the coach thinks it does. I am responsible for the big picture.”
Media reports about an alleged crisis meeting after the home defeat against the Scots were denied by Dortmund. Accordingly, there was no nightly conversation between managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, sports director Michael Zorc, license player boss Sebastian Kehl and Rose on Thursday.
Hütter prepared for all eventualities
Glachbach coach Adi Hütter said that he analyzed Dortmund’s defeat against Glasgow Rangers. “We will also draw the conclusions from this game. But not only from this game, but also from the previous ones. Of course, BVB has many strengths, but of course it also has weaknesses – like every team. We’re just trying to set up a good game and match plan.”
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s advantage over the relegation place is four points, but with four points from two games the “colts” are still unbeaten in February. However, Hütter did not free himself entirely from criticism. After ten seasons in a single-digit place in the table, Gladbach is currently only 13th. One of their only seven wins this season came against Dortmund (1-0).
Unusual Bayern series
A home game against the last should be exactly the right boost for FC Bayern to overcome the worst phase in ten months, even if the Munich Fürth should not be underestimated due to their improved form. It speaks for the dominance of Bayern in German and European football that with the 2-4 defeat in Bochum last Sunday and the 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 in Salzburg on Wednesday, they had their longest run without Victory since April 2021.
VfL Wolfsburg will face European Cup contenders Hoffenheim on Saturday, ÖFB team player Xaver Schlager is not yet a squad option, as coach Florian Kohfeldt announced on the match day PK on Thursday. The 24-year-old midfielder from Linz was out for months due to a cruciate ligament rupture, but according to his coach he could be enough for a call-up against Gladbach (February 26).
Kalajdzic struck again
VfB Stuttgart, threatened with relegation, are worried about the use of Sasa Kalajdzic before the home game against VfL Bochum. The Austria striker is doubtful after suffering a bruise in his calf, according to VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo. His use on Saturday depends on how his calf reacts to stress. Arminia Bielefeld’s offensive player Patrick Wimmer is expected to return to the starting eleven on Saturday against Union Berlin after a yellow card suspension. “Patrick has this carefree attitude of wanting to create situations from scratch. That’s good for us,” said his coach Frank Kramer.
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