Friday evening’s Topspiel in the Bundesliga is a Rhine Derby between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Köln. For Gladbach, their first win in the league last weekend was a real boost and something they’ll be hoping to bring into this clash. For the Billygoats, it’s already been a fabulous return to the top flight. On the cusp of the European spots, they’ll be keen to make it back-to-back wins and end the weekend inside the top six.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Gladbach’s 0-4 win away to St. Pauli last weekend was much-needed for Eugen Polanski’s side. Adding to the feel-good factor this week was the announcement that top striker Tim Kleindienst has extended his contract with the club until 2029. The German international is yet to feature this campaign due to injury, however, he could make his long-awaited return after November’s international break.
Ahead of this weekend’s derby, you’d expect Gladbach not to change much in terms of personnel as they will look to take the game to Köln in front of a packed Borussia Park.
Opting for a 3-4-2-1 against St. Pauli, Gladbach will most likely stay with the same formation and line up with Haris Tabaković leading the line.
Tabaković scored twice and assisted once against Pauli, to continue his recent hot streak, meaning he now has five goals in eight games. Shuto Machino scored his first Bundesliga goal for the club during the same game, alongside Oscar Fraulo scoring his first-ever goal for the club.
Florian Neuhaus also continued his revival under head coach Eugen Polanski. After the Mallorca incident, the midfielder was exiled to the under-23s, but since Polanski’s promotion to interim head coach, Neuhaus has been reintegrated and looked at his best.
Perhaps the stars are beginning to align for Gladbach at exactly the right time?
FC Köln
It’s been a remarkable return to the Bundesliga for Lukas Kwasniok’s Köln. Nine games played, 7th in the table, and with four wins to their name.
Should other games go in their favour this weekend, and they get one over on Gladbach, Köln will end matchday 10 inside the European places, heading into an international break.
Whilst the entire Köln squad deserves credit, it’s Said El Mala who has been grabbing all the headlines. The former Gladbach player and Ruhrpott reject received his first senior call-up to the Germany squad ahead of their crucial matches against Luxembourg and Slovakia.
The 19-year-old winger has scored four goals in eight Bundesliga matches so far this season, and has also attracted the interest of Bayern Munich and PSG.
El Mala started on the bench against HSV last weekend, but will certainly be looking to start from the first whistle after the week he’s had. Elsewhere, Kwasniok will most likely opt for the same formation and 10 players that started in the win in Hamburg.
Head-to-Head
The last time these two sides met was back in March 2024, with the game ending in a fantastic 3-3 draw.
Köln are unbeaten in their last three matches against their rivals, with their last defeat occurring in October 2022 when Gladbach won 5-2.
Over the past six meetings between these two sides, Gladbach have won just one, Köln three, and drawn twice.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
