Monchengladbach – Schalke

Two German teams face each other again in an Europa League 1/8-final at the Stadion im BORUSSIA-PARK in Mönchengladbach. Schalke 04 and Borussia M’gladbach will determine which one of them will qualify for the 1/4-finals of the European competition.

The first leg at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen finished without a winner. The 1-1 draw gives Borussia M’gladbach a slight advantage, but it could be neutralized with just one goal being scored by Schalke. Most certainly nothing is decided just yet, so we should expect an interesting and maybe an unpredictable game between the two German sides.

Schalke had more opportunities to score in the first leg, but Borussia was the team to score first, thanks to Jonas Hofmann. Guido Burgstaller equalized for the home team, but this was also the last goal in the game.

Both clubs are in a similar position in the German Bundesliga this season. And we could say that they are both underperfoming. Schalke are currently 11th in the standings, while Borussia are 9th, having just two points more than the Royal Blues.

It’s clear that winning Europa League is these two teams’ only chance of playing Champions League football next season.

The home team will be without the services of Ibrahima Traore, Mamadou Doucoure and Moritz Nicolas, who are all injured. In the same time Joel Mero and Lars Stindl are still doubtful for Borussia.

Schalke can’t rely on the injured Naldo, Baba Rahman and Breel Donald Embolo, while Leon Goretzka, Sead Kolasinac and Donis Donis Avdijaj are still doubtful. The good news come from the recovery of Atsuto Uchida and Jorge Andujar Coke, who are once again ready to play.

We should expect a well balanced game by the two teams who seem to be very even at the moment. An unpredictable, but interesting 1/8-finals clash in the Europa League.