Rhine Derby rivals face milestone clash as Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach seek survival bid boosts
Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach are both eager for three points to avoid getting sucked into the relegation scrap in the Bundesliga's 100th Rhine derby on Matchday 27 this coming Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm CET).
Rivalries are rarely as keenly contested as that between the two biggest historical football powers on the Rhine.
Gladbach may have more often gained the bragging rights in the 99 previous Bundesliga clashes (53 times), but that counts for nothing ahead of the centenary edition.
With Cologne just a single point ahead of the relegation play-off spot in 14th, and the Foals three points ahead of them in 12th, the winners on Saturday can gain a big boost to their survival hopes at the expense of their regional rivals.
A big derby calls for big stars to make their mark and there are plenty of those set to take to the RheinEnergieStadion field this Saturday.
19-year-old shooting star Saïd El Mala headed his ninth goal of the season in Cologne's 1-1 draw at Hamburg last Saturday, and the wing wizard is his side's leading scorer this season.
Gladbach's young midfield maestro Rocco Reitz pledged to give his all in the derby when confirming on Monday he will join Leipzig next season - the 23-year-old could barely give his fans a better parting gift than an away derby win.
Watch: The best of Saïd El Mala
Both sides pack a real threat in attack.
Ragnar Ache's four goals since the winter break for Cologne include a simply sensational bicycle kick in a 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim that earned him the Bundesliga Goal of the Month honour in February.
Haris Tabaković has led the line admirably for Gladbach in the absence of Tim Kleindienst due to injury - scoring one of his 11 goals so far this season to cap a 3-1 win in the first derby of the season in November.
Watch: Gladbach win first Rhine derby of season
Also on the scoresheet back on Matchday 10 was Kevin Diks, with the Indonesian international smashing the first of four Bundesliga goals so far from the penalty spot.
Diks' chief duty will be marshalling the Gladbach defence - with Rav van den Berg cutting a composed figure at the heart of the Cologne backline in his first Bundesliga season too.
However it unfolds, intensity and sheer desire are all but guaranteed with local pride and survival hopes on the line when the rivals clash on Saturday.
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