Borussia Monchengladbach take on Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Friday evening, with the hosts able to move above their forthcoming opponents into fourth place in the table with a victory.
Dortmund, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back after a bruising 2-1 defeat at Champions League qualification rivals Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Match preview
Having failed to win five of their eight league games this season, Gladbach's home match against Werder Bremen on Tuesday very much felt like a must-win if Marco Rose's side are to sustain a serious challenge for the top four positions once again this season.
The hosts were far from convincing throughout the 90 minutes, clearly missing the pace and presence of Marcus Thuram (still suspended) and Breel Embolo in attack after the Swiss striker allegedly broke COVID-19 lockdown rules.
However, Embolo's compatriot Nico Elvedi fired Gladbach into the lead with a fine header in the second half, with Milot Rashica and Leonardo Bittencourt both going close to earning Bremen an equaliser in the dying stages.
Gladbach held on for a crucial 1-0 victory, though, which provides them with a golden opportunity to climb back into fourth position, where of course they finished last season, by beating Dortmund on Friday.
After an excellent start to life under interim manager Edin Terzic, Dortmund appear to have hit the rocks a little in recent matches.
Having dropped two points at home to Mainz 05 in a 1-1 draw last weekend, BVB travelled to Leverkusen, who had failed to win any of their previous four league games.
However, Peter Bosz's side claimed a deserved 2-1 victory, with Moussa Diaby firing his side into the lead before setting up teenage sensation Florian Wirtz for his side's sensational counter-attacking winner with only 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Julian Brandt had pulled Dortmund level with a fine curling effort in the 67th minute after Dortmund's attack had briefly sprung into life after the break, but in truth Terzic and his players could have no complaints with the result and must put in an improved performance if they are to avoid defeat at Gladbach on Friday.
Borussia Monchengladbach Bundesliga form: DLWWDW
Borussia Monchengladbach form (all competitions): LWWWDW
Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form: WLWWDL
Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions): LWWWDL
Team News
Gladbach will remain without Thuram and Embolo against Dortmund, so Rose has the option of utilising Lars Stindl or Alassane Plea as the central attacking option.
Valentino Lazaro also remains out with a muscular injury, but Ramy Bensebaini should return to the starting XI having been rested in midweek.
Dortmund, meanwhile, will welcome Emre Can back to the squad after the midfielder served his one-game suspension in the defeat to Leverkusen.
Dan-Axel Zagadou, Axel Witsel, Thorgan Hazard and Marcel Schmelzer all remain on the treatment table for BVB, though.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Sommer; Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Kramer, Zakaria, Neuhaus; Plea, Stindl, Hofmann
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Burki; Meunier, Akanji, Hummels, Guerreiro; Can, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Reyna; Haaland
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
This should be a hugely entertaining match between two sides who can transition with lightning speed.
Given the amount of attacking talent on display it is tough to envisage either team keeping a clean sheet, but Gladbach appear to be hitting a patch of form of late and perhaps have a more ingrained style to help earn them a crucial victory.
