The new Bundesliga season will commence on Friday when Xabi Alonso's invincibles, Bayer Leverkusen, travel to face Borussia Monchengladbach at Borussia-Park.
The hosts finished 14th last season and will be hoping to better their recent campaigns, while the visitors come into the game fresh from their German Super Cup victory against Stuttgart last Saturday.
Match preview
The hosts began their 2024-25 season with a 3-1 win against Erzgebirge Aue in the DFB-Pokal on August 17, though they were made to sweat after conceding first in the eighth minute.
The fact Die Fohlen struggled against a team from the third division of German football is an unwelcome optic for boss Gerardo Seoane, who is hoping he can arrest his side's slide towards the relegation spots over recent seasons.
Borussia Monchengladbach finished their 2023-24 campaign with 34 points, just one more than 16th-placed Bochum, who ended up in the league's relegation playoff spot.
However, their poor showing last term was just one of many disappointing seasons since finishing fourth in 2019-20, as the club has not ended any of the last four seasons higher than eighth.
Seoane's side collected just 14 points from 17 games in the second half of their 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign and failed to win any of their final six league matches.
They also failed to win any of their last six games at Borussia-Park in the Bundesliga, although when factoring in their six pre-season friendlies, they have won their last seven matches overall.
Opponents Bayer Leverkusen were taken to penalties in the Super Cup final against Stuttgart last weekend after drawing 2-2, but Xabi Alonso's side emerged as 4-3 victors in the shootout.
Leverkusen were no strangers to late comebacks last term, and this experience proved vital against Stuttgart as Patrik Schick netted an 88th-minute equaliser to level the score at 2-2.
Alonso's win in the final means he has clinched every domestic trophy available to him at the club, but their victory was made even more remarkable considering his side were forced to play with 10 players after Martin Terrier was sent off in the 37th minute.
Their triumph also means that Alonso has won three of Die Schwarzroten's total of five major trophies, and he is the only manager in Bundesliga history to guide a team to an unbeaten league title.
The 'Invincibles' scored 89 goals and conceded 24 times last campaign and this made them the division's second-best offensive and best defensive team.
Including their four pre-season fixtures, Leverkusen have only won once in their last five matches, though they have prevailed in 14 of their last 17 away games in the Bundesliga.
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Team News
The hosts will be able to select first-choice centre-back Nico Elvedi as well as winger Robin Hack, who was last season's top club scorer.
However, Borussia Monchengladbach will be without midfielder Borges Sanches and goalkeeper Jan Olschowsky due to knee injuries.
As for the visitors, Martin Terrier will not serve a suspension in the league after his red card and is available for selection.
Elsewhere, Exequiel Palacios will be absent, so expect Granit Xhaka to be partnered in midfield by Aleix Garcia.
Bayer Leverkusen could also recall regulars such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, who all featured from the bench against Stuttgart.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Omlin; Scally, Itakura, Elvedi, Netz; Reitz, Weigl; Honorat, Stoger, Hack; Kleindienst
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Garcia, Grimaldo; Wirtz, Adli; Boniface
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-3 Bayer Leverkusen
Although Leverkusen have not been in the strongest form since the end of 2023-24, they demonstrated that they still have what it takes to win when it matters most.
Additionally, considering Borussia Monchengladbach's poor showing last term, it would be surprising if they managed to avoid defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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