Game one after Max Eberl
It was already a small earthquake that Max Eberl triggered with his resignation as sporting director at Borussia Mönchengladbach. His reasons are understandable and show what a shark tank professional football is. Nevertheless, things must somehow continue with the Foals, and already on Saturday, when the team from the Lower Rhine will be guests at the Bielefeld Alm.
Even if those who keep it with Borussia won’t like to hear it. But while the East Westphalians know how to go about it, the Foals must first prove that they are capable of fighting to stay in the league. The form of the last few weeks rather suggests the opposite.
Arminia have gained some breathing space recently and have moved up to 14th place after a good series. Frank Kramer’s team currently has 21 points. The points average could be a little better to stay in the Bundesliga, but if Arminia continue like this, then we dare to predict before the match between Bielefeld and Gladbach that the East Westphalians will also be in the top flight in the coming season.
To be honest, we are not so optimistic about Borussia at the moment. Adi Hütter’s team has outstanding qualities, but somehow a lot doesn’t seem to fit this season. At the moment, the Foals are only one point and two places ahead of Arminia. Therefore, we would rather not bet on a win for the visitors in the match Bielefeld vs Gladbach.
Bielefeld – Statistics & current form
The East Westphalians describe themselves as Gauls who are not intimidated by the Bundesliga establishment and have shown themselves to be indomitable, especially in recent games. Moreover, Arminia has emerged as a fast starter. In each of the last two games, they managed to take the lead in the opening minutes. Frank Kramer’s side seem to be wide awake in the relegation battle.
Relegation battle accepted
At the moment, Bielefeld are unbeaten in five games in the top flight. Only Union Berlin can boast such a streak. There was no defeat in any of the last four games at the Alm. For us, this means that we can probably neglect the odds on an away win in the match between Bielefeld and Gladbach on Saturday.
Before the international break, Arminia were guests at Eintracht Frankfurt, a club that wants to get into the European Cup. Patrick Wimmer gave Bielefeld a 1-0 lead after just five minutes. Not even half an hour had passed before Alessandro Schöpf added the 2:0. The East Westphalians held on to this result until the end and celebrated an important away victory.
In terms of personnel, things are looking relatively good for the Bielefeld side. Captain Manuel Prietl, however, is probably not yet an option after his infection this weekend. Jacob Laursen and Fabian Kunze suffered minor injuries in the test match against Paderborn, but should be fit for action on Saturday. Otherwise, only the ill Nathan de Medina will probably be missing.
Predicted line-up of Bielefeld:
Ortega Moreno – Andrade, Nilsson, Pieper, Brunner – Vasiliadis – Krüger, Schöpf, Okugawa, Wimmer – Serra – Coach: Kramer
Last matches played by Bielefeld:
1st Bundesliga
01/21 2022 – Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 2 Arminia Bielefeld
01/16 2022 – Arminia Bielefeld 2 – 2 Greuther Fürth
01/08 2022 – SC Freiburg 2 – 2 Arminia Bielefeld
12/18 2021 – RB Leipzig 0 – 2 Arminia Bielefeld
12/14 2021 – Arminia Bielefeld 2 – 0 Vfl Bochum
Gladbach – Statistics & current form
Max Eberl has left voluntarily and now coach Adi Hütter is already the next personnel in the room. The Gladbach fans are whistling that Niko Kovac is already in the starting blocks when the official request from the Niederrhein comes in. The current coach is still trusted to steer the team back on the right track, but for how much longer?
Crisis Borussia
The bare numbers don’t lie. Borussia lost six of their last eight Bundesliga games, picking up just four points in total. In addition, the Foals won only one of their last seven away games, and that at FC Bayern, who had to field a B eleven due to the pandemic. These are not statistics that would lead one to predict an away win in the match between Bielefeld and Gladbach.
Before the international break, Gladbach were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup, where they lost 3-0 to second-division Hannover. Then came the next disillusionment in the Bundesliga. In the meantime, Kouadio Kone equalised the score at 1-1, but in the end Borussia was left empty-handed once again.
Denis Zakaria was transferred to Turin at the last minute. Jordan Beyer and Lars Stindl will not be able to play at the Alm due to injury. Otherwise, all players should be on board. Christoph Kramer could return to the team, but should at least be in the squad. It will be interesting to see who Adi Hütter will trust in his presumed fateful game.
Predicted line-up of Gladbach:
Sommer – Friedrich, Elvedi, Ginter – Kone, Kramer, Netz, Lainer – Hofmann, Neuhaus – Embolo – Coach: Hütter
Last matches played by Gladbach:
1st Bundesliga
01/22 2022 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – 2 Union Berlin
DFB Cup
01/19 2022 – Hannover 96 3 – 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
1st Bundesliga
01/15 2022 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 – 2 Bayer Leverkusen
Friendly club matches
01/08 2022 – Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 – 3 Viktoria Koeln 1904
1st Bundesliga
01/07 2022 – Bayern Munich 1 – 2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Bielefeld – Gladbach Direct comparison / H2H-balance
For the fact that Arminia Bielefeld and Borussia Mönchengladbach met in the Regionalliga West for a few years directly after the introduction of the Bundesliga, a total of 44 games is not that much between these two clubs. The direct comparison speaks clearly in favour of Borussia with 28:7 victories. Nine times the two rivals parted with a draw.
In the last eleven Bundesliga games, the Foals have not lost to Arminia. The East Westphalians have failed to score against Borussia a total of 18 times and Bielefeld have also failed to score in their last five home games against Gladbach. The first leg of the current season ended 3:1 for the team from the Niederrhein after goals from Lars Stindl (2) and Denis Zakaria and a goal from Masaya Okugawa.
Bielefeld – Gladbach Tip
The direct comparison is basically the only statistic in favour of the Foals in this match. Borussia have been unbeaten against Arminia for eleven games in the top flight and the Bielefeld side have not scored more often against any other first division team, most recently five times in a row at the Alm. All the other facts suggest that Frank Kramer’s team will at least score.
Gladbach have won only one of their last seven matches away from home. From the last eight Bundesliga games, Borussia have picked up just four points and lost six times. The Foals are in a tangible crisis and must accept the relegation battle.
The Bielefeld side have not lost for five games. They are also on a run of four home games without defeat. Frank Kramer’s team is currently very stable and has not left the relegation places for nothing thanks to the successes of the last few weeks. However, we shy away from the big risk and play the betting odds on a home win with DNB in the duel between Bielefeld and Gladbach.
