German Bundesliga - Werder Bremen vs. Borussia Monchengladbach - Preview & Prediction
Fighting for their survival in the Bundesliga, 17th-placed Werder Bremen will be hoping to register a second consecutive victory while playing host to 5th-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, who are battling for a top-four finish this season. Kick-off - at 14:30 PM ET on Tuesday, May 26.
Werder Bremen Triumph In Freiburg
A glimmer of hope came Werder Bremen’s way in the team’s bid for survival in the Bundesliga this season, as the Green-Whites banked their first victory in the last eight league fixtures (W1 D1 L6) following a 1-0 triumph over Freiburg away at Schwarzwald-Stadion on Saturday. Bremen were outshot 17-10, with the hosts leading in shots on target as well (7-2), but still managed to get on the scoreboard through Leonardo Bittencourt after 19 minutes of play, with Freiburg’s second-half strike being canceled out due to an offside call. With just five victories this season (W5 D6 L15), the Green-Whites sit 2nd from the bottom, trailing a relegation playoff spot by three points, being six points below safety altogether.
With seven Bundesliga strikes in 22 appearances so far this season, Kosovar left-winger Milot Rashica leads Werder Bremen in scoring. He has, however, gone for 11 league fixtures without a goal to his name. Goalie Jiri Pavlenka, meanwhile, occupies the 4th place in the Bundesliga with 84 saves, having recorded two clean sheets in 25 appearances this year. He allows a goal every 39 minutes on average. The Green-Whites are bottom of the league in most goals scored this season (29), 12th in most shots taken (12.7 per game), 10th in control of the ball (48.4%), and 7th in passing accuracy (78.7%).
Gladbach Fall To 5th Place
Borussia Monchengladbach failed to extend their lead on top-four rivals Bayer Leverkusen after dropping a 3-1 domestic decision against Die Werkself at Borussia-Park on Saturday, thus dropping to the 5th place in the Bundesliga (W16 D4 L7), with Bayer moving to the 4th position with an advantage of a single point. Marcus Thuram scored for the second straight game for Gladbach, who have lost two of their past three contests (W1 L2), but have still gone W5 D2 L2 in their last nine Bundesliga matches. They trail 3rd-placed RB Leipzig, 2nd-placed Borussia Dortmund and 1st-placed Bayern Munich by two, five, and nine points respectively.
French-Malian striker Alassane Plea tops Borussia Monchengladbach’s scoring chart, having picked up nine goals and eight assists in 24 appearances (22 starts) so far this season. His only Bundesliga hat trick has been registered against Werder Bremen back in October 2018. Goalie Yann Sommer, meanwhile, leads Germany’s top flight with 103 saves from 27 starts this year and has recorded five clean sheets. He gives up a goal every 71 minutes on average. Gladbach is 4th in most goals scored (53), 5th in most shots taken (13.9 per game) and 6th in both ball possession (51.2%) and passing accuracy (80.8%).
Prediction
Werder Bremen have won consecutive games just once this season (back in Matchdays 3-4) and will definitely find it difficult to break down a strong Borussia Monchengladbach team, which is battling for a top-four place this season, currently trailing the 4th-placed Bayer Leverkusen by a single point. The Green-Whites have dropped seven straight domestic decisions and have managed to notch just a single win in their last 14 Bundesliga contests versus Gladbach, with the Foals earning at least a point in their very last eight head-to-head meetings with Bremen (W6 D2). Expect the hosts to score at least a goal, though, as both teams have already gotten on the scoreboard in the very last nine outings of Gladbach, with 11 of Foals’ previous 14 matches versus Bremen also ending with at least a snipe from both sides.
Best bets:
Borussia Monchengladbach to win (-135)
Werder Bremen to score one goal (+150)
