Leverkusen to begin title defence against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Borussia Mönchengladbach welcome reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen to Borussia-Park this Friday to kick off the Bundesliga season, with both sides eager to make an early statement in their contrasting campaigns.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach will have the privilege of hosting Bundesliga's opening fixture when they take on reigning champions Leverkusen this Friday. Despite finishing just one point above the relegation playoff spot last season, Gerardo Seoane kept his place despite six managerial changes taking place ahead of the new season. However, the manager is expected to perform better or risk losing his seat this campaign.
Friday’s fixture against Leverkusen will serve as a litmus test for his readiness. Gladbach made additions in the transfer market to strengthen the team, bringing in Tim Kleindienst from Heidenheim, alongside midfielders Philipp Sander and Kevin Stöger from Holstein Kiel and Bochum, respectively.
Some of the new signings got their first taste of competitive football for Gladbach as the team progressed to the second round of the DFB Cup by coming from behind to beat 3. Liga side Erzgebirge Aue 3-1 last Saturday. Gladbach will be hoping for a similar result when they take on Leverkusen in Bundesliga’s maiden game of the season.
However, they will have to break a nine-game winless run against the visitors, with their last win against Leverkusen coming in November 2019. Nevertheless, the hosts were the last team to beat a reigning champion on MD 1 with a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in 2001. Meanwhile, their last home win against Leverkusen came on MD 1 of the 2018-19 season.
A 4-2-3-1 formation with new signing Kleindienst leading the attack is expected.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Meanwhile, Leverkusen, who became the first-ever team to go unbeaten across a BL campaign last season, will be looking to get off to a flying start as they begin their title defence.
Die Werkself extended their unbeaten run across all domestic competitions to 41 games after a win over Stuttgart in the DFL Supercup via penalties following a 2-2 draw.
Xabi Alonso was happy to see how Leverkusen held on to their title-winning team while adding Jeanuël Belocian and Martin Terrier, both from Rennes, and Aleix García from Girona to the fold.
With the new additions, Leverkusen will be keen to kick off the new campaign with a win. Doing so would see them extend the run of current champions to go without defeat on Match Day 1 after 22 such games.
Alonso is expected to line up the familiar 3-4-2-1 with Victor Boniface in attack.
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