Ranked in points in the Bundesliga, Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen will have their paths crossed on Wednesday, December 20, for the knockout rounds of the German Cup 2017/2018 season. The clash will be held at Borussia Park in Monchengladbach. The kickoff is scheduled for 15:30 (BrasÃlia time).
The rules of the tournament require definition in a single game. Thus, if there is no winner in the regulatory time will be carried out extension of 30 minutes. If equality persists, the definition goes to the penalty decision.
The recent performance of Borussia Monchengladbach
Also in Monchegladbach, Borussia broke on Friday, December 15, a series of three games without winning by scoring 3 to 1 in Hamburg. With that, he reached the mark of 28 points (eight wins, four draws and five losses) in the Bundesliga. He completed the first round in the sixth position, within the limit of the qualifying zone for European tournaments next season.
In Borussia Park, the team did not lose four matches. It was two wins and two draws that took him to the fifth best position in the ranking that takes into account only the results obtained by the teams of the German Championship in their domains.
To improve this series and take the team to the quarterfinals of the German Cup, however, coach Dieter Hecking has many problems to set the team. Before scaling the team for Wednesday’s match, he will need to position the medical department against defenders Fabian Johnson (nine matches in the 2017/2018 German Championship, one match) and Tobias Strobl (no performance); the Laszlo Benes (one game, no goal), Jonas Hofmann (seven games without a goal), Christoh Kramer (13 games, one goal) and Ibrahima Traore (three games without a goal); and striker Julio Villalba (a game, no goal). They’re all in the infirmary treating their injuries.
The current form of Bayer Leverkusen
Although being in the top of the standings table is not new for Bayer Leverkusen, in the current season of the German Championship such performance can be considered surprising. That’s because in the dispute of 2016/2017 the club had a series of problems, dismissed two coaches and gave up some important players.
Thus, it was expected a season without greater brilliance in the process of transition for the assembly of a new team. That’s not what happened. Without losing 15 games (eight games and seven wins), he is fourth in the Bundesliga. You are in the qualifying block for the Champions League. Like Monchengladbach, he has accumulated 28 points (seven wins, seven draws and three losses), but takes advantage when taken against the tiebreaker criteria.
Coach Heiko Herrlich, who was chosen to rejoin the team, has fewer medical problems to define the lineup for the clash with Borussia Dortmund. Of the holders, only the Chilean Aranguiz (12 matches in the 2017/2018 German Championship, a goal ), former International, is delivered to the medical department.
History of matches for Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen
A 5-1 defeat at Monchengladbach in the first round of the 2017/2018 German Championship interrupted a sequence of three Borussia wins over Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen has been able to manage its transition process very well. Playing conservatively, avoid taking defensive risks and, when possible, use the speed to overcome rivals. That earned at least one point in 14 of 17 Bundesliga matches.
The Monchengladbach can not present the same consistency, but it shows greater force in the house. Thus, the tie in the regulation time appears like good option of guess for the confrontation. The price is 3.40 in Rivalo. Victory of the owners of the house pays 2.90 and the visitors yields 2.40 for 1.