After the pain of watching Mannschaft lose to Norway in Düsseldorf with a lusterless performance, it is time to put that behind us and return to Borussia's charge up the table as they travel north to face Werder at the Weserstadion.
Performance since the start of Rückrunde is definitely cause for optimism as Hans Meyer has welded a strong defending unit, eliminating the problems of the first half of the year. In the first two matches they have gave up only three goals, one an own goal and the other a clearly missed call of an offside position. With the exception of Michael Bradley, who will return tomorrow, all players on international duty have returned and appear sound. Borussia will be tested with a number of absences including Rob Friend to suspension and Dante, Frederic Löhe und Jean-Sébastien Jaurès, all to injuries. There is also reason for concern with Filip Daems und Alexander Baumjohann overall health in question. Depending on last minute decisions Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker, Thomas Kleine, Sebastian Schachten or Johannes van den Bergh could be utilized.
Thomas Schaaf's Werder is in its own mode of denying crisis as they are odd position of the bottom half of the table, losing their last three of four matches. The pressure is on them and they will press to break through the 'Gladbach defending wall. There efforts will be without both Per Mertesacker and Daniel Jensen who were injured on international duty and Diego who pulled up in a recent practice.
Tactically, expect the "bolt" to be screwed down tight as with with VfB match, using three across the backline with Tomáš Galásek in advance with a strong focus on denying the Werder advances.