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It has been 15 years since these two sides last met in a competitive fixture, although they did cross swords in a pre-season friendly
It has been 15 years since these two sides last met in a competitive fixture, although they did cross swords in a pre-season friendly

Fortuna eye Rhine derby honours

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Munich - After winning 2-0 away at FC Augsburg, Fortuna Düsseldorf are in high spirits ahead of one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures on their calendar - the Rhine derby with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Never the bus driver

Although only 30,000 fans will get to Düsseldorf's home return to the top flight, their coach Norbert Meier is convinced the atmosphere will be intimidating for their guests.

"The people who will be there are going to make some noise," he said. Meier knows not only what it is like to be at the ESPRIT Arena, but he knows pretty much everything there is to know about his side's opponents having both played for and coached The Foals. "I was in every position at Gladbach, only not the bus driver," he quipped. "But I am 100 per cent Fortuna on Saturday."

Meier does not expect Gladbach to be any weaker after their trip to Kiev in midweek either, nor should the result - a 2-1 defeat which saw them drop out of the Champions League and go into the Europa League - dampen their spirits too much. "Anybody who relies on them getting back tired has got it wrong," added Meier. "In the season before last, they were practically relegated and then they finished an amazing fourth - you have got to take your hat off to that."

Bundesliga focus


Gladbach coach Lucien Favre believes he will be able to get his side focused on the task in hand, despite Wednesday's disappointment. "We have got to turn our attention back to the Bundesliga and concentrate from the beginning," he said. "I am confident that we will manage it. The players know that the Bundesliga is the most important thing for us." However, the Swiss coach recognises that playing a newly-promoted side who hit the ground running last weekend is "extremely difficult" for any side.

The home team welcome Stefan Reisinger back into their side after a bout of tonsilitis, but Bruno Soares and Andreas Lambertz will both be missing due to injuries. Meanwhile, Leon Balogun has pulled muscle fibres in his thigh and will also miss out on an occasion the club has had to wait 15 years for. And just like any London bus, it is a game which will come along again very soon - the two sides have been drawn together in the second round of the DFB Cup at the end of October. However, for now, only three Bundesliga points and local pride matter.