Two points and two places separate Borussia Monchengladbach and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table heading into Sunday's gameweek 31 fixture at Borussia-Park.
Neither side is firing on all cylinders, with Gladbach and Union winning one of their recent five league fixtures, as relegation remains a possibility for both.
Match preview
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Robin Hack scored a hat-trick for Gladbach last weekend, but that was not enough for a side that conceded four at the other end in a 4-3 defeat by Hoffenheim.
It was the Foals' third defeat in four Bundesliga games — the only victory was a 3-1 triumph at Wolfsburg on April 7 — with Gerardo Seoane's men claiming maximum points on one occasion in their past seven league games.
While ending in the bottom two positions is unlikely as Seoane's team are nine clear of second-bottom Koln, they are not assured of participation in the top division next season.
The upshot of the club's underwhelming results leaves Gladbach 12th in the Bundesliga, two ahead of this weekend's opponents in 14th and four above Bochum occupying the relegation playoff spot.
The Foals' form in 2024 does not inspire much confidence, as their 14 points in the New Year betters just four clubs in the division, pointing to a nervy ending to a disappointing season.
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Union are not faring that much better in 2023-24, underscored by the dispiriting decline that has seen this season's Champions League debutants uncertain of Bundesliga participation in 2024-25.
This season already consumed the long-serving Urs Fischer in November, and Nenad Bjelica has had a mixed five months on the job.
Last weekend's 5-1 thrashing at Bayern Munich highlighted the glaring tactical weaknesses of a side that looked devoid of ample out-of-possession instructions against Thomas Tuchel's team, who ran riot in the emphatic success.
That was Union's third league defeat on the trot, and the 14th-placed club have not won in four, having played out a goalless game with Eintracht Frankfurt before the ongoing sequence.
Five defeats from their last seven is undoubtedly relegation form for the capital club, who sit two points clear of Bochum and seven ahead of Koln heading into round 31.
Team News
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Julian Weigl is suspended after picking his 10th yellow card this season in last week's defeat against Hoffenheim.
While Christoph Kramer (illness), Maximilian Wober (thigh) and Jonas Omlin (thigh) are doubtful, the quartet of Tony Jantschke (adductor), Manu Kone (thigh), Jordan Siebatcheu (thigh) and Grant-Leon Ranos (ankle) are ruled out.
Union have fewer absentees than Gladbach, with Rani Khedira (thigh) and Jerome Roussillon (calf) touch-and-go. However, Jakob Busk (calf) is not expected to play any part on Sunday.
While Robin Gosens scoring six times from wing-back is commendable, the capital club's struggles are probably underscored by a wide defender outscoring the team's forwards.
Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:
Nicolas; Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi; Lainer, Reitz, Itakura, Netz; Honorat, Plea, Hack
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Vogt, Leite; Trimmel, Tousart, Aaronson, Schafer, Gosens; Aaronson, Vertessen
We say: Borussia Monchengladbach 1-1 Union Berlin
Even though Union have not scored in three consecutive away games, the capital club's impressive record against Gladbach points to that sequence without a road goal ending on Sunday.
However, the hosts should back themselves to end a five-match losing run against this weekend's opponents (seven-game streak without a win), with both out-of-form sides possibly sharing the spoils at Borussia-Park.
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