Gladbach seek first points in basement battle

Borussia Mönchengladbach welcome TSG Hoffenheim to Borussia-Park on Sunday, with the Bundesliga’s bottom two sides desperate to turn their fortunes around after difficult starts to the season.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

It has been a disastrous start to the Bundesliga season for Borussia Mönchengladbach, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table without a single point from their opening five matches.

Alexander Blessin’s first match in charge last weekend ended in another disappointment, as the Foals suffered a 2-1 defeat away at local rivals Köln, despite Joseph Scally bringing the visitors level before the break.

That result means Gladbach have now conceded 18 goals in just five league matches, with their defensive struggles proving costly throughout the opening weeks of the campaign.

However, Blessin will be hoping his first home match in charge can spark a change in fortunes, particularly given that Gladbach thrashed Hoffenheim 4-0 in the corresponding fixture last season.

Team news

Blessin continues to face a lengthy injury list, with captain Tim Kleindienst suffering another muscle injury during the week, ruling the striker out of Sunday’s clash.

Jan Leszczyński and Fritz Fleck have also picked up injuries, while Ko Itakura, Franck Honorat, Jens Castrop and Enzo Leopold remain unavailable.

There is better news regarding Nicolas Kühn, who has returned to team training, although his involvement remains uncertain.

Click here to see our predicted Gladbach lineup

TSG Hoffenheim

Things have not been much better for Hoffenheim, who sit just one place above Gladbach in 17th, having secured only three points from their opening five Bundesliga matches.

Christian Ilzer’s side suffered another frustrating defeat last weekend, falling 3-2 at home to Hamburg despite having overturned an early deficit to lead in the second half.

Miro Muheim’s stoppage-time winner condemned the hosts to their fourth league defeat of the season, with Hoffenheim also having to play the closing stages with ten men following Bernardo’s dismissal.

The misery continued on Thursday evening, as Hoffenheim suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Beşiktaş in the Europa League, leaving Ilzer’s side without a point from their opening two European fixtures.

With just one Bundesliga victory to their name, against Stuttgart last month, Die Kraichgauer will be desperate to take advantage of Gladbach’s struggles and avoid being dragged further into trouble.

Team news

Ilzer will be without Bernardo after the defender received two yellow cards against Hamburg last weekend.

Albian Hajdari is also unavailable after suffering a plantar fascia injury, with Ilzer confirming that the defender is set to miss the next few weeks.

Patrick Wimmer remains sidelined with a thigh injury, but Ilzer otherwise has options to rotate following Thursday’s European defeat.

Click here to see our predicted Hoffenheim lineup