Schalke 04 vs Borussia Monchengladbach Prediction and Preview – 18/03/16
Bundesliga preview – Schalke 04 vs Borussia Monchengladbach prediction.
Schalke right-back Junior Caicara is suspended for the crunch match against Monchengladbach and Sascha Riether will step into the side. Winger Eric Choupo-Moting and central midfielder Leon Goretzka have returned to training and increase Andre Breitenreiter’s options. Midfielder Marco Hoger is getting closer to his comeback from cruciate ligament injury while central defenders Benedikt Howedes and highly-rated Matija Nastasic are sidelined with long-term injuries.
Monchengladbach coach Andre Schubert is keeping a watchful eye on Havard Nordtveit who limped out of Saturday’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt with a knee injury. The Norwegian midfielder has been a key part of his three-man central defence in the absence of Alvaro Dominguez, Tony Jantschke and Martin Stranzl. Midfielder Granit Xhaka also left the field of play early suffering from a muscle strain but joined the squad in training this week and is expected to be passed fit for Friday’s game.
Possible Line-ups
Schalke 4-2-3-1 formation: Fahrmann; Riether, Matip, Neustadter, Aogo; Geis, Hojbjerg; Schopf, Meyer, Belhanda; Huntelaar
Borussia Monchengladbach 3-4-3 formation: Sommer; Elvedi, Christensen, Nordtveit; Johnson, Dahoud, Xhaka, Hinteregger; Hazard, Stindl, Raffael
Statistics
- Schalke have won 4 drawn 3 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Monchengladbach have won 4 drawn 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Schalke have scored an average of 1.3 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Monchengladbach have scored an average of 2.1 goals and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Schalke’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Monchengladbach’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Schalke dropped out of the top 4 after losing 2-0 at Hertha Berlin last weekend, missing the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents into third and allowing Friday’s rivals to overtake them in the race for a Champions League place. Breitenreiter’s side have only won two of the last six in Bundesliga and need a victory as there are three more sides closing in on them. Schalke have won four of the last six at home but Monchengladbach will be the highest rated visitors since losing 3-1 to Bayern Munich in November.
Monchengladbach made short work of relegation-threatened Frankfurt last Saturday to register their fourth consecutive home win. However, Schubert’s men need to raise their game when on the road as they have lost four of the last five away from home. Monchengladbach defeated Schalke twice in three days in league and cup last October when in the middle of a purple patch of 12 games undefeated.
Gladbach have not won away since late November and may have to return home empty-handed once again.
Tips
Schalke to win at 6/4 with bet365
Over 2.5 goals at 8/13 with Marathonbet
Schalke to win 3-1 at 17/1 with BetVictor
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