Resurgent Borussia Mönchengladbach host high-flying RB Leipzig in Matchday 12 curtain-raiser

A resurgent Borussia Monchengladbach, who are the only Bundesliga team to have picked up maximum points in their last three games, host Ole Werner’s high-flying RB Leipzig in the Matchday 12 curtain-raiser.

Fans can expect a physical battle when the two clubs meet at Borussia-Park on Friday night. Only Bayer Leverkusen have won more duels than Leipzig (53 percent) in Germany’s top flight this season, with Gladbach winning 51 percent of theirs, ranking both teams among the top six. 

Under the tutelage of Eugen Polanski, who replaced Gerardo Seoane on an interim basis in mid-September, Gladbach are slowly reinventing themselves. Without a win in their opening eight games of the season, results have since improved drastically.

Watch: Gladbach revitalised under Polanski

Back-to-back wins against St. Pauli and local rivals Cologne moved the Foals out of the relegation zone, resulting in the permanent appointment of Polanski.

While Gladbach were flirting with the relegation zone, Leipzig responded well following their heavy  Matchday 1 defeat against Bayern Munich. An uptick in form saw Werner’s side pick up seven wins and a draw from the eight games that followed before their Matchday 10 defeat against Hoffenheim.

For a club that’s undergoing a transitional phase after missing out on European football and with several key departures in Xavi Simons, Benjamin Šeško and Loïs Openda, Leipzig are exceeding expectations and are remarkably only six points behind table-toppers Bayern. But they face a difficult task at Borussia-Park, a stadium in which they typically struggle at with four defeats in their last five outings.

Eugen Polanski has guided Gladbach to three straight Bundesliga victories, including derby spoils over Cologne. - DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Against a resurgent Gladbach under the helm of Polanski, Leipzig will have their work cut out. The Foals are playing with renewed confidence and a desire to win. The 39-year-old - a tenacious midfielder during his playing days - has instilled a winning mentality in his squad during his short tenure in charge. 

Celebrating his permanent appointment, Gladbach enjoyed an emphatic Matchday 11 display against Heidenheim (3-0) to secure their third consecutive victory in the Bundesliga, a feat they haven’t managed since the final three games of the 2019/20 season.

Leipzig also returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Werder Bremen to continue their perfect home form with Assan Ouédraogo on the scoresheet, although the Saxony outfit will be without their star performer for the next few weeks due to a knee injury.

The form of young midfielder Assan Ouédraogo has helped Leipzig get off to a flying start, but the freshly minted Germany international has now picked up an injury. - RONNY HARTMANN

Gladbach sit in mid-table when it comes scoring goals this season, with 16 after 11 matchdays. A season-long loan signing from Hoffenheim, Haris Tabaković - who was signed to provide cover for the injured Tim Kleindienst - has scored almost half of Die Fohlen’s league goals this season. The Bosnian has repaid the faith shown in him by Polanski, returning seven goals in 10 Bundesliga games.

Watch: Tabak-goal-vić - Gladbach's main man

There’s also been improvement in every department. Yannik Engelhardt has filled a Julian Weigl-shaped hole, Rocco Reitz is running the midfield engine room and Florian Neuhaus - who could make his 200th Bundesliga appearance - is nearing his best. Polanski has also shored up Gladbach’s defence, which has conceded just one goal in their last three games after allowing 18 goals in the first eight matchdays.

Meanwhile, only Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have conceded fewer than Leipzig’s 13 goals this season, and BVB’s Gregor Kobel is the only goalkeeper to register more clean sheets than Péter Gulácsi.

In midfield, Christoph Baumgartner is enjoying a more fruitful campaign, establishing himself as a key player for Leipzig in the gap left by Xavi. The Austrian scored against Dortmund and Augsburg, either side of a brace against Hamburg on Matchday 7 to take his tally to five goals having scored on Matchday 2, surpassing last season’s tally.

Watch: Baumgartner in bloom

Active in the final third, no player has registered more shots than Baumgartner at the club this term (26) - the joint-seventh most league-wide. Only Bayern trio Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz have chalked up more goal contributions than Baumgartner - who has five goals and three assists - this season. 

Complimenting Baumgartner in possession is attacking duo Antonio Nusa and Yan Diomande. Blessed with quick feet and pace to burn, the latter has been a standout performer in his maiden campaign for Leipzig following a summer move from Leganés. Only Union Berlin's Oliver Burke has registered a quicker top speed than Diomande (35.98 km/h).

Watch: The best of Diomande

With Leipzig’s attacking threat in wide areas and Gladbach’s impenetrable defence, Friday night’s Matchday 12 opener promises to be an interesting tussle as two of the Bundesliga’s most physical clubs face off.

About the clubs

RB Leipzig

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Borussia Mönchengladbach

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