Borussia Monchengladbach vs Nurnberg Predictions

Borussia Monchengladbach are enjoying one of their best ever starts to a Bundesliga campaign. Last weekend’s 0-0 draw away to Hoffenheim was a respectable result that helped solidify their return to form after the hiccup that was a defeat away to RB Leipzig in the game prior (2-0). Key to their success have been attacking trio Thorgan Hazard, Alassane Plea and captain Lars Stindl. Brazilian forward Raffael adds to that attacking threat after returning from a spell sidelined. He scored off the bench in their last outing at Borussia Park, though he’ll be hard-pressed to break up the in-form front line. Die Fohlen will no doubt like their chances of getting another result this weekend against the Bundesliga’s worst travelling side.

Nurnburg were defeated 2-0 at home against a resurgent Wolfsburg on Friday, a result that saw them slump into the automatic relegation places. Coach Kollner’s men have taken just three points from their last nine Bundesliga outings (D3 L6) – a league-low – and an injury to Hanno Behrens – top scorer in their 17/18 promotion winning season – has done them no favours as one of the weaker offenses in the league. Blanks in each of their last two matches raises even more questions about ‘where are goals going to come from?’. And that’s before the even bigger question of ‘how are we going to stop conceding?’.

Unfortunately for Nurnberg, it’s hard to think they’ll not be asking those same questions again come Tuesday evening. It goes without saying that they’re one of the weaker sides in the Bundesliga, but it’s hard to see their poor travelling record giving them even a glimmer of hope against Gladbach’s stellar one at Borussia Park. Dieter Hecking’s men are the only side to have won every home outing so far this season and they look to be banging in goals for fun. Gladbach have scored three goals or more in each of their last five home outings in the Bundesliga, while Nurnberg have conceded three or more in four of their last five on the road too – defeats against Borussia Dortmund (a 7-0 defeat) and RB Leipzig (a 6-0 defeat) stand out.

It’s hard to criticise Gladbach much at all really, and a few key names deserve a mention: forward Alassane Plea has cemented himself as one of the signings of the summer (8 goals in 15 appearances), while midfielder Thorgan Hazard has also come into his own this season – he’s scored 11 goals and assisted 6 across all competitions. Expecting the pair to improve those numbers against Nurnberg on Tuesday requires no stretch of the imagination and at the other end it’s hard to see the visitors causing goalkeeper Yann Sommer too many problems. Gladbach have kept a clean sheet in 57% of their home outings, while Nurnberg have failed to score in 57% away. Our prediction: 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach.