Bundesliga: Pressure at Both Ends

Bundesliga: Pressure at Both Ends

Fortuna Dusseldorf vs Borussia Monchengladbach

Two teams at either end of the Bundesliga meet in Dusseldorf on Saturday, and it’s a crucial match for both.

Fortuna Dusseldorf entertains Borussia Monchengladbach at the 54,000 capacity Merkur Spiel-Arena, desperate for a win to ease their relegation fears, while Die Fohlen are trying to keep pace with the leaders at the top of the table.

Marco Rose’s attacking side led the league table early in the season, but while they remain well in the hunt, the latest Bundesliga 2020 betting odds don’t give Monchengladbach much chance. FC Bayern, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund all sit above Die Fohlen, though only four points separate the four teams, and Monchengladbach has a game in hand.

Die Fohlen have drifted out to fourth favourites at 41.00 to lift the title, and if they can win on Saturday and their game in hand, those odds will fall quickly.

Fortuna fans would prefer not to look at the chances on them taking the dreaded drop, they are odds-on.

Talking Points

Plea suspended

Monchengladbach head to Dusseldorf without their top scorer and, should they fail to win all three points, Rose will be mightily unimpressed.

Alassane Plea saw red in the 2-2 draw away to RB Leipzig, a match which slipped away from Die Fohlen after they led 0-2. Plea scored his eighth league goal of the season to put his side in front, but after Jonas Hoffman had doubled the lead with his first of the season, Red Bull roared back, Christopher Nkunku scoring a late stunner to share the spoils.

As the match began to unravel for Die Fohlen, Plea lost his head and picked up two bookings within seven seconds, both for dissent!

Fellow Frenchman Marcus Thuram has six goals to his name and has been in fine form, while Swiss striker Breel Embolo, also with six, is likely to make a start.

It’s so tight at the top but the Bundesliga 2020 results from this weekend may open things up a little.

Leipzig are at home to Werder Bremen, another side in the midst of a relegation battle, Bayern are away to 13^th placed Cologne, though their hosts are the league’s form side with five wins in six, and BVB is at home to ninth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.

FC Bayern and BVB are also embroiled in a Champions League campaign, so Red Bull and Die Fohlen will hope the fixture schedule is on their side.

Dusseldorf battling for survival

Die Fortunen are in deep trouble, down in 16^th place and at 1.48 with SBOBET to finish in the bottom two, and after a tenth-placed finish last season that would be a disaster.

Former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler was appointed head coach in January, his first job in the Bundesliga. But he arrives after a successful two seasons at Malmo and has brought his high pressing style to Dusseldorf. The back-to-back league draws sandwiched a cup win, so with three games unbeaten, it looks like Die Fortunen are starting to battle at the right time.

An in-form goal-scorer is always a huge advantage for teams at the bottom and in former Burnley striker Rouwen Hennings; Rosler might just have his man. He has 11 to his name and only three strikers have scored more than Hennings in the Bundesliga this season, Robert Lewandowski, Timo Werner and Jadon Sancho.

Midfield man Erik Thommy has made a good contribution with five assists while scoring two, and he gives more hope to Fortuna’s fans.

Dusseldorf are still in the DFB Pokal Cup and available at odds of 21.00 to win it for the first time since 1980, when they completed back to back Cup wins.

History

In the 13 meetings since 1993, Fortuna have won six to Monchengladbach’s five and there have been two draws.

Monchengladbach won their home fixture against Fortuna by 2-1, back in September, thanks to a second-half brace from Marcus Thuram after Kasim Nuhu had given Dusseldorf an early lead.

But Dusseldorf won here at the Merkur Spiel-Arena by 3-1 in March last year, and Monchengladbach haven’t won in their last five away matches.

Betting Tip

Double Chance Fortuna Dusseldorf or Draw @ 1.89

Fortuna are at 3.85 to win, with the draw at 3.70 and Monchengladbach at 1.85 to grab a priceless away win and Die Fohlen certainly have the quality in their side.

But Rosler has given Fortuna purpose, and with Plea missing he will hope his struggling side can give the high-flyers a nasty shock.

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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