Borussia Monchengladbach-FC Nurnberg
Borussia Park
Saturday, 21th August 2010 – kickoff 15:30

Borussia Monchengladbach

Borussia Monchengladbach have been having a great pre-season with several wins and especially notable was the 1-0 win over Liverpool couple of weeks ago. Last weekend they also beat the lower side of Erzgebirge Aue 1-3 away in a DFB Cup match which additionally boosted team`s confidence before the start of the new season.

Last season Borussia M`gladbach finished 12th in the Bundesliga and this year they hope they can get into the top ten teams.

Just like last season this team plays in a formation with two strikers – Karim Matmour and Mo Idrissou. The Cameroonian International Idrissou has been the top striker of this team in the past seasons.

Coach Michael Frontzeck has some problems with couple of injured players. The first choice goalkeeper Bailey has been suffering from back problems so he will be replaced with the second choice keeper-Heimeroth. The striker Raul Bobadilla (rehab after torn ligament) is very doubtful but he had started with trainings last week so there is slight possibility that he might get some playing time if he is fit enough by Saturday.

Definitely out is Igor de Camargo (ankle injury) and will have to sit out for couple of weeks.

Probable Borussia Monchengladbach line-up :
Heimeroth,
Levels, Brouwers, Dante, Daems,
Bradley, Marx, Reus, Arango,
Matmour, Idrissou

FC Nurnberg

FC Nurnberg avoided relegation last season and survived in the Bundesliga because of their good home form where they had some notable wins and draws against top seeded teams (Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich). This team has been well known as “home” team as they struggle a lot when playing away.

Prior the start of this season they beat Duisburg 3-0 in a friendly match and also progressed in the DFB Cup with the 2-0 win over Trier.The 20-year old Mehmet Ekici, who is on loan from Bayern Munich, impressed in those matches and will find his place in the starting eleven against Borussia M`gladbach.

Coach Hecking also has problems with his first goalkeeper Raphael Schafer who had complained on shoulder injury and missed couple of training sessions last week. He is expected to play, but if he is not able to participate, the 23-year old second choice goalkeeper Alexander Stephan will wait for chance for a sixth appearance for the team.

One change since the last season is that the main striker of the team Angelos Charisteas left the club and made transfer to the newly promoted French side AC Arles-Avignon.

Probable FC Nurnberg line-up :
R. Schafer,
Judt, Wolf, Nilsson, Pinola,
Simons, Gundogan,
Eigler, Ekici, Bunjaku ,
Schieber

The Betting Verdict

These teams have balanced record playing against each other. FC Nurnberg have won 23 matches, 9 matches have ended in a draw and Borussia M`gladbach have won 25 times.

Borussia Monchengladbach are a decent side that will probably start aggressively to continue with their very good pre-season performances and made step forward from last season.

On the other side, FC Nurnberg main goal for the season will be again to avoid relegation and that will be tough task to do having on mind that their main striker left and this team is known of their low scoring abilities.

I expect this to be a match where Monchengladbach will attack a lot and FC Nurnberg will be satisfied if they manage a point.

Borussia M`gladbach have more quality and longer bench, no other significant problems in the squad so i expect them to start the campaign successfully and get a win here.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Borussia Monchengladbach 2-0 FC Nurnberg

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Home win for Borussia Monchenglabach